REP. BRIAN MAST: Democrats' 43-day shutdown was not a strategy — it was a disaster

Let maine accidental this arsenic plainly arsenic I can: erstwhile the Democrats unopen down our national government, that wasn't a strategy. That was their failure.

For the past 40 days, the word "government shutdown" became interchangeable for Democrats with words similar "leverage" oregon "to marque a point." But for millions of Americans, this shutdown wasn’t governmental theater. It was a gut punch. It meant missed paychecks, putting unpaid bills connected recognition cards with mounting interest, delayed travel, nationalist information risks, and uncertainty astir whether the radical who support and service this federation volition get paid connected clip — if astatine all.

When the authorities backing ran retired owed to a Democrat temper tantrum, it wasn’t they who instantly felt the pain. It was the aerial postulation controllers and TSA officers keeping our skies safe. It was the Coast Guard members who patrol our shores, the Border Patrol agents defending our border, and the soldiers and sailors lasting ticker overseas. They were asked to support showing up and doing their jobs portion Washington argued implicit talking points.

That’s not leadership. That’s a betrayal.

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And it doesn’t halt with those successful uniform. When the authorities unopen down, families crossed the state felt the ripple effects. National parks closed, hitting tiny businesses that beryllium connected tourism. Federal indebtedness processing and lodging assistance paused, slowing down location income and operation projects. Airports backed up arsenic morale and staffing dropped, putting aviation information astatine risk. Every furniture of authorities that supports our regular lives cracked nether the value of governmental dysfunction.

From a nationalist information standpoint, shutdowns are particularly dangerous. Military grooming schedules were disrupted, instrumentality repairs were delayed, and readying got pushed disconnected for weeks oregon months. And I person nary doubt, our adversaries saw that dysfunction and work it arsenic weakness -- with China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin laughing arsenic Democrats threw our state into chaos truthful they could money DEI locust simplification successful Africa oregon transgender occupation fairs successful Bangladesh. The satellite doesn’t halt portion Congress argues, and the threats we look surely don’t hold for a continuing resolution.

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But Democrats look to hide this shutdown is not a victimless lapse. It outgo billions successful mislaid productivity and inefficiency. This twelvemonth alone, the VA was capable to process implicit 3 cardinal disablement claims, importantly reducing the backlog. Because of this shutdown, that momentum stopped. We’ve successfully closed our borderline with zero amerciable immigrants crossing into our country. Because of this shutdown, that advancement was enactment astatine risk. The American radical shouldn’t person to unrecorded with that uncertainty and information each clip Congress can’t conscionable a deadline.

A metallic plaque connected the facade of the Department of Veterans Affairs gathering successful Washington, D.C. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)

It’s clip for Congress to hole this breached strategy erstwhile and for all. But we besides request to look different elemental truth: portion we person been capable to reopen the authorities this time, the bulk of Democrats successful Congress would alternatively spot America proceed to suffer. We request to run nether the thought that Democrats successful Congress volition ever enactment their governmental interests supra the American people. So however bash we halt this symptom and suffering successful the future?

 Democrats look to hide this shutdown is not a victimless lapse. It outgo billions successful mislaid productivity and inefficiency.

The archetypal measurement is fixing the changeless menace against our nationalist security. While immoderate would person thought it unimaginable, we conscionable witnessed Democrats effort to summation "leverage" during the past 43 days by utilizing our work members’ wage arsenic a unit point. This is unacceptable. That’s wherefore I’ve authored the Pay Our Patriots Act -- to marque wage for our indispensable work members and aerial postulation controllers mandatory during a authorities shutdown. While the Constitution requires members of Congress to beryllium paid adjacent during a authorities shutdown, our subject is near retired successful the cold. That needs to change.

Representative Brian Mast, R-Fla., during a House Committee connected Foreign Affairs proceeding connected Capitol Hill connected January 11, 2024, successful Washington, D.C.  (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Next, we’ve got to betterment the fund process itself. Every year, Congress is expected to walk 12 appropriations bills connected time. Every year, we autumn abbreviated and edifice to impermanent patches that footwear the tin down the road. We request to cleanable it up.

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It’s that aforesaid driving rule that has pushed my committedness to reauthorize the State Department for the archetypal clip successful much than 2 decades. Just arsenic we request stableness and oversight for our overseas argumentation institutions we request the aforesaid successful our appropriations process. Reauthorization is astir bringing transparency, structure, and modern priorities to however America engages the satellite — ensuring that each dollar and each determination bespeak our nationalist interests and values. Whether it’s lasting beardown overseas oregon keeping the lights connected astatine home.

Fixing our appropriations process and ending the rhythm of authorities shutdowns that proceed to plague america is astir restoring accountability and bid to however we money our government. It’s astir making definite payer dollars are spent responsibly and that the men and women who service our state don’t wage the terms for Congress’s dysfunction.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer talk to reporters aft gathering President Donald Trump astatine the White House astir backing authorities to debar a authorities shutdown connected September 29. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

We request to enforce existent deadlines, amended committee discipline, and bring transparency to however payer dollars are allocated. Governing by situation is nary mode to lead.

I correspond Florida’s 21st District, location to subject families, veterans, tiny concern owners, and nationalist servants. They don’t person the luxury of lasting connected made-up principles oregon throwing temper tantrums erstwhile they don’t get their way. Neither should Democrats successful Congress. This authorities shutdown said large and wide that Democrats spot the American radical arsenic leverage. That’s unacceptable, and we can’t fto it hap again.

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The American radical merit a authorities that works—one that protects their paychecks, their safety, and their trust. Let’s hole this occupation that plagues america twelvemonth aft year, support the American taxpayer, and marque definite the authorities of the United States ne'er shuts down again.

That’s not politics. That’s duty.

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