Sewell blames Trump for possible government shutdown

December 19, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-Selma) blasted President-elect Donald J. Trump (R) and the world's richest man – Elon Musk – for blowing up a bipartisan budget deal to keep the government funded.

"Because of House Republicans' last-minute decision to abandon our bipartisan funding agreement, Alabama communities could lose out on $284 million in urgently needed disaster assistance," Rep. Sewell said in a statement. "And just days before Christmas, countless military families, seniors, first responders, and veterans could have their paychecks and benefits put at risk by a government shutdown."

Late Tuesday night, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) announced that a bipartisan deal on a continuing resolution (C.R.) had been reached to keep the government funded until March and avoid a partial government shutdown prior to Christmas. Conservatives objected to details of the 1,500-page agreement. Support for it in Congress evaporated altogether Wednesday afternoon after President-elect Trump announced he was opposed to the deal. Musk, who donated $274 million to help elect Trump, then threatened to fund primary opponents to any GOP member who voted for the plan.

"Donald Trump and Elon Musk may not know how it feels to miss a paycheck, but it is Alabama's working families who will pay the price for their reckless shutdown," Sewell continued. "House Republicans should stop taking orders from billionaires and start looking out for the needs of hard working families."

According to an analysis by the House Budget Committee Democrats, under a government shutdown would result in.

38,017 active duty and reserve personnel serving our nation's armed forces in Alabama would be forced to go without the pay they earn during a shutdown.

The Small Business Administration would stop processing small business loans, halting a program that provides $284,694,700 in funding to small businesses in Alabama every year.

4,797 people flying through Alabama airports every day would face potential delays and safety concerns due to staffing impacts on TSA agents and air traffic controllers.

111,999 people in Alabama would lose access to Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits in a prolonged shutdown.

46,826 federal workers in Alabama would be furloughed or forced to work without pay during a total government shutdown, in addition to the many employees of businesses with government contracts who could be laid off, furloughed, or see their hours cut.

Workers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would be sidelined, risking interruptions and delays to the 224 food safety, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and other inspections conducted in Alabama last year.

The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing housing loans, which provide $545,442,546 in funding to help 3,049 families in rural Alabama communities buy homes every year.

The Department of Agriculture would be forced to stop processing farm loans which provide $93,451,000 in funding for farmers in Alabama every year.

772,813 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries in Alabama would lose access to benefits in a prolonged shutdown.

1,294,952 people who visit national parks in Alabama every year would be turned away or unable to fully access parks, monuments, and museums.

To help constituents prepare for a possible Trump-Musk shutdown, Rep. Sewell's office has compiled a webpage with frequently asked questions here.

Musk has seen his fortunes soar this year taking his net worth past $500 billion – the first person to ever break the half a trillion dollar mark.

On Thursday afternoon House Republicans rejected a plan to keep the government funded. A partial government shutdown could be just hours away as negotiators for the two parties scramble to come up with a plan that can pass the House. The fiscal year ended on September 30. Instead of passing a budget the Congress passed an 80 day continuing resolution that is about to run out. Instead of passing a budget, Congress is considering another continuing resolution to get the government funded till March. That looks increasingly unlikely to happen as efforts to find compromise appear to have stalled.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com