October 11, 2025
Dear Friends,
We are now well into the second week of a government shutdown caused by Republicans’ refusal to negotiate a budget agreement that protects health care and affordability for American families. Despite controlling the Presidency, the Senate, and the House, Republicans have been unwilling and unable to pass a budget that addresses the health care crisis caused by their “Big, Ugly Bill” — and the American people are paying the price for their failure to govern.
My Democratic colleagues and I are ready to come to the table, reopen our government, and deliver relief for the families who need it most. But instead of joining us in that effort, Donald Trump and his GOP allies are trying to make this shutdown as painful as possible for working Americans — threatening to fire tens of thousands of federal workers and canceling billions for clean energy projects across the nation, including nearly $180 million awarded to our Capital Region. This isn’t good-faith negotiation — it’s a shakedown aimed at crushing dissent and bolstering Trump’s own power.
Since the federal government shut down on October 1st, I’ve received hundreds of questions from constituents about how the shutdown is impacting their lives. That’s why this week, I held a virtual Town Hall to directly answer some of those questions. Below is a small sampling of the many inquiries you submitted, along with my answers. You can find a full recording of the event on my YouTube page HERE.
Mary in Waterford asked: “Who will be affected by budget cuts to health care? The Republicans keep saying it will be undocumented immigrants — but I think we should provide health care to all people living in the U.S.”
Since the start of the GOP shutdown, Republicans have been repeating the bold-faced lie that only undocumented immigrants will be affected by their drastic health care cuts. In fact, undocumented people are not and have never been eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, or Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits. But millions of Americans will feel the impact — including more than 15 million who will lose Medicaid coverage and millions more who will see their premiums skyrocket if ACA tax credits are allowed to expire. For example, a 60-year-old couple making $80,000 would see their health care costs increase by $17,500 per year, while a family of four earning $64,000 would face an annual premium hike of more than $2,500 — a 426% increase. That is an unacceptable burden on working families, and I won’t compromise on the health and well-being of my constituents.
Paul in Schenectady asked: “What else — besides not voting for the Republican-backed budget — are you and the Democratic Party doing to force Trump and his enablers to uphold their oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution?”
I’ve been consistent in calling out this administration and Republicans in Congress for their attacks on democratic institutions, civil rights, and vulnerable communities, and I’m pushing our own party to be bolder and to meet this moment with the urgency it demands. But I recognize that words and votes in Congress are only a fraction of what’s needed. That’s why I’m also focused on helping to build community power that can outlast any administration — and it’s why I’ll keep urging my constituents to lean into their own power by showing up, speaking out, and voting like democracy depends on it.
Myron in Troy asked: “What are you and the Democrats doing to protect unionized federal workers?”
Federal employees furloughed because of the Republican shutdown are legally guaranteed back pay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019. However, in yet another display of cruelty toward federal workers, President Trump has threatened to illegally withhold paychecks for thousands of these employees. My colleagues and I will fight vigorously to ensure every federal worker receives the pay they are entitled to under the law.
If Republicans want my vote on their budget, they need to earn it with real, enforceable concessions on addressing our health care crisis and reining in Trump’s lawlessness. But instead of negotiating, House Republicans haven’t even bothered to show up in Washington for more than three weeks. It is my hope that Republican leadership actually brings members back into session next week, so we can have an open dialogue on reopening the government and bringing down costs for the American people. I was always taught to stand up to bullies, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- Since the beginning of this government shutdown, I’ve received a number of questions from constituents about how the shutdown will affect their families and their communities.
- To help answer some of those questions, I’ve created a landing page on my website to provide you with information and resources.
- This webpage includes answers to frequently asked questions about the status of various federal government programs and services during a shutdown, including:
- Social Security
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Veterans’ services
- Small business loans
- SNAP benefits
- And much more
- You can visit that webpage HERE to view the most up-to-date information about the impacts of this GOP shutdown.
- If you have any further questions or need any assistance with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to contact one of my offices, which will remain open and ready to serve you throughout the duration of this shutdown.
