Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns regarding the government shutdown.
As you may know, Congress has a responsibility to pass appropriations bills that determine the funding levels for every aspect of the federal government’s operations. The Fiscal Year ends on September 30 every year, and Congress must continue to fund the government to avoid a federal shutdown.
On September 30, 2025, I voted for S. 2882, a funding bill that would keep the government open and protect health care access for millions of Georgians. In particular, it would have protected Georgians from cuts to Medicaid and, for over a million Georgians, sharp increases in health care premiums. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues voted against this legislation. Instead, Congressional Republicans proposed a bill, H.R. 5371, that would have funded the government but allowed health care access across our state and country to be gutted. I voted against this legislation because I cannot support a budget that will allow for catastrophic cuts to health care for Georgians. Because neither of these efforts passed, on September 30, 2025, the federal government shut down.
As your U.S. Senator, I understand that government shutdowns can have catastrophic consequences, including leaving millions of federal workers without pay and suspending most federal government operations domestically and abroad. That is why I am working to safeguard Georgians and their livelihoods:
On October 15, 2025, I joined my colleagues in requesting Office of Management and Budget Director Vought affirm that furloughed employees will receive back pay, as is required by law, after a leaked White House draft memo suggested denying furloughed employees back pay. You can view the full letter here: https://www.kaine.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_omb_re_furlough_back_pay.pdf.
I am a cosponsor of S. 3039, the True Shutdown Fairness Act, which would pay all excepted and furloughed federal employees, Servicemembers, and federal contractors during the government shutdown, and S. 3043, the Military and Federal Employee Act, which would provide a one-time appropriation to pay federal employees, contractors, and Servicemembers who have missed pay due to the government shutdown.
On October 23, 2025, I voted to advance S. 3012, the Shutdown Fairness Act, which would pay all excepted federal employees, Servicemembers, and federal contractors during the government shutdown. While this is not the bill that I would have drafted, this vote reflects my commitment to the people who work hard every day to keep us safe and keep our country moving. It is critical hardworking public servants get the pay they are owed.
On October 22, 2025, I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Rollins urging the agency to use all available legal authorities to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and ensure Georgia's families can get these benefits without interruption. You may read this letter here: https://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_release_funding_to_continue_snap_into_novemberp.pdf.
On October 29, 2025, I cosponsored S. 3071, the Keep SNAP and WIC Funded Act, which would ensure SNAP and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits continue uninterrupted for the remainder of this fiscal year.
On October 29, 2025, I also cosponsored S. 3024, the Keep SNAP Funded Act, bipartisan legislation which would ensure SNAP is funded through the end of this fiscal year.
My focus is on restarting negotiations to find a path forward on—and passing—bipartisan government funding legislation that protects Georgians' access to health care and restores all federal services, and I will keep your views in mind as I do so.
In the meantime, while my office is operating with limited capacity, we remain open to hear from Georgians and can still provide limited assistance on urgent federal matters. For help with a federal agency, please contact me here: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/?path=help. For more information on how government services are affected, please visit my website here: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/shutdown/.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so again in the future if I may be of assistance to you or your family.
Sincerely,
Reverend Raphael Warnock
United States Senator
Dear Mr. Gregory,
Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns regarding the government shutdown.
As you may know, Congress has a responsibility to pass appropriations bills that determine the funding levels for every aspect of the federal government’s operations. The Fiscal Year ends on September 30 every year, and Congress must continue to fund the government to avoid a federal shutdown.
On September 30, 2025, I voted for S. 2882, a funding bill that would keep the government open and protect health care access for millions of Georgians. In particular, it would have protected Georgians from cuts to Medicaid and, for over a million Georgians, sharp increases in health care premiums. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues voted against this legislation. Instead, Congressional Republicans proposed a bill, H.R. 5371, that would have funded the government but allowed health care access across our state and country to be gutted. I voted against this legislation because I cannot support a budget that will allow for catastrophic cuts to health care for Georgians. Because neither of these efforts passed, on September 30, 2025, the federal government shut down.
As your U.S. Senator, I understand that government shutdowns can have catastrophic consequences, including leaving millions of federal workers without pay and suspending most federal government operations domestically and abroad. That is why I am working to safeguard Georgians and their livelihoods:
My focus is on restarting negotiations to find a path forward on—and passing—bipartisan government funding legislation that protects Georgians' access to health care and restores all federal services, and I will keep your views in mind as I do so.
In the meantime, while my office is operating with limited capacity, we remain open to hear from Georgians and can still provide limited assistance on urgent federal matters. For help with a federal agency, please contact me here: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/?path=help. For more information on how government services are affected, please visit my website here: https://www.warnock.senate.gov/shutdown/.
Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to do so again in the future if I may be of assistance to you or your family.
Sincerely,
Reverend Raphael Warnock
United States Senator