The Shutdown
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 3, 2025
The American people expect the federal government to work for them. They expect federal programs and services to be there when they need them, and they expect Congress to make their tax dollars work for American citizens. Unfortunately, the government is not open, and it is not working as it should.
On Wednesday at midnight, the government shut down after Senate Democrats decided to hold the federal government and American people hostage over partisan policy demands. Their laundry list of demands totals $1.5 trillion – an absurd amount of money to ask for during a government shutdown. Their wish list includes health care subsidies for illegal immigrants and people making $110,000 a year. The Democrats’ decision to shut the government down is withholding the pay of hundreds of thousands of government employees across the country.
Meanwhile, the Republican proposal is simple: extend the current budget for seven weeks so the House and Senate can finish passing annual funding bills. I voted to keep the government open so taxpaying South Dakotans receive the services they’re paying for.
Shutdowns are stupid and no one benefits from them. To stop the repetitive political theater and consequences of shutdowns, I introduced the Eliminate Shutdowns Act to make sure shutdowns never happen again. Additionally, I believe Congress shouldn’t get paid when American workers like our men and women in uniform do without. I made sure I won’t receive a paycheck during this shutdown – it’s just not fair.
I’m working every day to open the government, and my team and I will be available to serve South Dakotans who need help.
If you’re wondering how the shutdown might impact you, I’ve included some updates on common government services below.
Agencies with minimal changes in services
- Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will continue to operate as normal. The processing of new benefits may be delayed.
- The United States Postal Service will not be interrupted.
- All VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open. VA benefits, including compensation, pension education, and housing benefits will continue to be processed.
Where services may be impacted
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will continue to be paid. A prolonged shutdown may impact these benefits.
- Funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may stop during the shutdown.
- National Parks may be closed to visitors during the lapse in funding. I recommend checking the park’s status ahead of any planned visit.
- Air traffic controllers and TSA will operate without pay and some delays are possible.
- Passport applications are currently taking 4-6 weeks to process for routine applications. Further delays are possible as the shutdown continues.
- The Farm Service Agency will continue to service farm loans during this time. It will provide emergency loans, but this service may be slower than usual. Local offices will be closed but an on-call farm loan officer will be available for emergencies should the shutdown be prolonged.
I will continue to work throughout this government shutdown. Please reach out to my office if you have any questions or need assistance.
‘1.5 trillion – an absurd amount of money to ask for during a government shutdown. Their wish list includes health care subsidies for illegal immigrants and people making $110,000 a year.’ Johnson You are a lying Say a lie long enough people believe it You are a disappointing individual
Yeah, Thune used every trick in the sorting hat to make the “Democrats Did It” spell work, and it DIDNT WORK.
Lesson: when you don’t have a Senate Supermajority, and your House delivers a partisan fiscal evisceration with “budget” scrawled in sharpie, then leaves town, a president and Senate simple majority needs to NEGOIATE with Democrats and bring the House back to conference.
You DO NOT do “my way or the highway” – and expect Democrats quietly take joint ownership of the WORST budget this actual brain dead Congress has yet produced. The tone deaf GOP totally owns this disaster. So let it be written so let it be done.
Word.
Do we really want a known liar as our next governor.
Wow, that’s one heckuva piece of propaganda. Dusty, your party controls the House, Senate and White House. Just own it and take the L
Republicans control all branches of government, this is their fault.
How many shutdowns happened during the Biden Administration?
I suggest Johnson take a whiff of what he’s shoveling.
Hey Dusty Time for a town hall meeting?
Six posts by the same ‘anonymous’ person.
That’s gotta be a record.
Ta, and they are all stupid.
Fat finger….YA, and they are all stupid.
Nah I was the first and sixth
Dusty, you were ordered by your leader to not talk to the Democrats about any and all of their concerns with health care including the health care of many of your constituents but you expect them to vote for your CR. You also voted for the rescissions this summer in a budget that you agreed with the Democrats to approve and you think they will trust you to address their concerns a few weeks down the road. That’s rich!!
Do the idiot dems in the comments not understand they need 60 votes in the senate to overrule the filibuster, and have only 53 seats?
They don’t understand basic civics.
So when the dems are in charge and Republicans dont follow along, it’s the dems fault. When Republicans are in charge and the dems dont follow along, it’s the dems fault. Do you Republicans take accountability for anything? How about the 20 billion to Argentina while farmers get 10 billion in welfare all for self inflicted wounds? Giving cash to the country now supplying China with their agenda products. So much winning!
Well said!
AND as the party in power its your responsibility to negotiate The Senate was set up as a community of gentlemen Not like the rabble in the House Look it up
So you need to negotiate to get to 60 DUH
The Republicans need to stop talking about the shutdown. If they just answered questions about it with “what shutdown? We’re all still working,” the only folks who would notice anything would be the non-essential federal employees and their close friends and relatives.
The rest of us would be talking about the heat, the bugs, and what day Daylight Savings Time ends. In spite of the grandstanding, the mail is still being delivered..
Anybody remember the Kevin Costner movie, “The Postman?” The whole point of it was that the only reason people think the government exists is because of the postal service. As long as the mail is delivered, nobody cares.
Stop talking about it.
Let’s see how it all plays out then. I think your prediction is flawed.