January 1, Democrats Slam Shutdown After Blocking GOP Bill

Wyatt’s Take

• Democrats claim a shutdown hurts working folks but voted against funding.
• They demanded big spending hikes and called the GOP bill a nonstarter.
• Some Democrats face trouble at home and in the courts over their choices.

House Democrats are warning that a government shutdown would hit regular Americans hard, even after voting down a Republican bill to keep things running. They returned to Washington promising to avoid a shutdown, but stood firm against the GOP proposal to fund government operations for seven more weeks.

Many said a shutdown would hurt their districts, but didn’t seem to regret voting no. Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar posted,

“Make no mistake: A shutdown would disrupt vital services, halt disaster relief, and put countless federal employees out of work.”

He argued it wouldn’t hurt politicians but would hit everyday Americans. Yet, he voted with 210 other Democrats to block a temporary funding plan that would have kept the border patrol paid and helped some veterans.

Cuellar shared a picture traveling to D.C., promising to fight for keeping the government open, right after voting against funding.

On my way to DC to fight for keeping the government open. pic.twitter.com/iCOwB1gceS

— Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) September 29, 2025

Moderate Democrats wanted $1.5 trillion more in spending for Obamacare and Medicaid before backing any deal. Republicans said no.

Cuellar said border patrol and veterans would struggle if the government shut down but still voted against the funding bill. The DOJ also indicted him in May for bribery and other charges related to foreign money.

If a new Texas voting map holds up in court, Cuellar could lose his seat in a district that voted big for Trump.

Virginia Rep. Eugene Vindman also blamed Republicans, saying GOP members would rather shut down the government than drop demands. Vindman voted against a joint funding bill, arguing it didn’t do enough to cut costs, even though many federal workers in his area would go unpaid.

He and his twin brother are known for ties to efforts to impeach Trump, and the media has covered his role in that fight. If the shutdown drags on, thousands of government workers could miss paychecks, with districts like Vindman’s likely to feel it most.

Want to keep up with these fights and how they affect Main Street? Stay tuned as the next round plays out in Washington.

Wyatt Matters

Shutting down the government is more than a talking point—it’s about real-life impact on working families. Elected leaders should focus on protecting jobs, border security, and affordable care for everyday people, instead of playing political games with our livelihoods.

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