As the government shutdown led by Democrats continues, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) expressed concern about the impact of ongoing partisan disagreements on congressional responsibilities. In a statement, Cole criticized Senate Democrats for blocking efforts to reopen the government and emphasized the consequences of continued inaction.
“It’s a striking irony that the same Senate Democrats who preach ‘No Kings’ are governing like one — blocking the majority will of both chambers to reopen government. The clean, nonpartisan CR they’ve rejected 13 times fully funds SNAP and WIC, pays all federal workers, including our service members and air traffic controllers, and keeps every federal service operational for Americans. It’s straightforward, responsible, and free of poison pills and partisan riders. No political leverage — just action to protect Americans," Cole said.
He warned that each day the shutdown persists increases risks to completing full-year appropriations. “Every day the government remains shut, the risk to full-year appropriations grows. We are losing daylight fast. Democrats are upending the critical progress appropriators have secured by breaking their bad habits. Let’s not forget: Senator Schumer didn’t put a single FY25 appropriations bill on the Senate floor while he was Majority Leader. Republicans replaced his beloved chaos of last-minute, thousand-page omnibus bills written in the dark with a transparent, line-by-line process in the open. And it was working. The first slate of FY26 conference bills was nearly finished before this senseless obstruction halted responsible governing in its tracks."
Cole also stated that efforts toward regular order were being jeopardized by current events: “That work toward regular order is what American taxpayers deserve, and Democrats are jeopardizing our Article I responsibilities. As FY25 proved, the more time forfeited, the fewer options we have. In the strongest terms, I remain fully committed to driving bipartisan cooperation to complete full-year FY26 funding. If Democrats truly cared about protecting the institution and nation, they would stop the sabotage and vote to reopen the government.”
The situation highlights ongoing divisions over how Congress should approach federal funding legislation.
