South Bend Times

Democrats have been blamed for the recent federal government shutdown, according to U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-Mishawaka). In a statement issued October 1, 2025, Yakym said that Democrats rejected a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), that House Republicans had passed two weeks earlier.

Yakym explained the purpose of the CR by saying, "Think of a CR like putting gas in the tank to get to the next station. It’s not a permanent fix, but it keeps the engine running while Congress finishes bipartisan negotiations on long-term funding. Ours gave seven more weeks to complete the job responsibly."

He criticized Democrats for proposing an alternative bill that included additional spending and policy provisions. According to Yakym, "Democrats rejected that common-sense approach. Instead, they offered their own version stuffed with $1.5 trillion of American taxpayer money in new spending. Their bill was not about keeping the government open; it was about forcing through a wish list: reinstating free healthcare for illegal aliens, a $50 billion cut to rural healthcare, and billions for DEI and climate projects overseas. That’s not governing, it’s opportunism."

Yakym also addressed claims that the Republican CR was partisan by stating, "The clean CR only looks 'partisan' because Democrats chose to make it that way. Remember, they supported the same kind of short-term extensions 13 different times during the Biden administration. The only thing that changed is their politics."

Highlighting his party's legislative achievements since gaining support from voters in Indiana's 2nd District—an area he has represented in Congress since 2022—Yakym said, "Hoosiers sent a clear message in November: they wanted Republican leadership to deliver real change. And we have. We made the 2017 tax cuts permanent. We secured the border. We ended taxes on tips and overtime. We helped Main Street businesses keep more of what they earn. We restored immediate expensing. And we passed the largest spending cut in American history."

He continued by stating his commitment: "That’s not what Hoosiers voted for, and it’s not what I promised. I promised to work with President Trump and get America back on track, and that means standing against the old Washington game of reckless spending."

Emphasizing potential consequences if an agreement is not reached soon, Yakym added: "Everyone should agree on this much: our troops deserve to be paid. TSA agents and border patrol deserve their paychecks. Families who rely on food assistance deserve stability. That ends if Democrats continue blocking the clean CR Republicans put forward."

Yakym concluded with an appeal for action: "The choice is simple. Keep the government running, or keep playing politics. It’s time to stop the games and do right by the American people."

Yakym is currently serving his second term representing Indiana's 2nd Congressional District after being elected in 2022 (https://yakym.house.gov/about/). He resides in Granger and is an alumnus of Indiana University South Bend.