This Government Shutdown Underscores Urgent Need for Reform

Oct 1, 2025 by AFP

Washington, D.C. – As the federal government shuts down, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is calling out the partisan brinkmanship that led to this failure—and urging lawmakers to embrace responsible budgeting that reflects the will of the American people.

House Republicans proposed a clean funding resolution that would have kept the government open and adjusted spending levels for inflation—a common-sense approach that avoids unnecessary disruptions while respecting taxpayers. But instead of working toward a bipartisan solution, Democrats rejected the plan and demanded unrelated partisan priorities.

“This shutdown was entirely avoidable,” said Brent Gardner, Chief Government Affairs Officer at Americans for Prosperity. “Republicans put forward a reasonable plan to fund the government and protect taxpayers. Democrats chose partisanship over practical governance. Americans deserve better than this kind of dysfunction.”

New polling from YouGov confirms what Americans for Prosperity has long argued: Americans are fed up with shutdown politics. According to the survey, 61% of Americans agree that government shutdowns hurt Congress’s ability to help the country succeed. The message is clear—Americans want leaders to stop the dysfunction and start delivering results.

“Shutting down the government is a losing strategy,” Gardner added. “It’s time for leaders to put the country first and pass a budget that reflects real priorities—not political games.”

AFP is calling on all lawmakers to put partisan politics aside and come back to the table to re-open the government as quickly as possible.”

Through broad-based grassroots outreach, Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is driving long-term solutions to the country’s biggest problems. AFP activists engage friends and neighbors on key issues and encourage them to take an active role in building a culture of mutual benefit, where people succeed by helping one another. AFP recruits and unites activists in all 50 states behind a common goal of advancing policies that will help people improve their lives. For more information, visit www.AmericansForProsperity.org

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