FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 29, 2025

Contact: Josie Harms

Gov. Rhoden and Colleagues Urge Congress to Prevent Government Shutdown

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden and 24 fellow governors wrote Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, urging them to prevent a government shutdown by passing a clean short-term funding extension. You can find the letter here.

“A shutdown is neither sustainable nor a responsible way to govern, and the American people understand that. That is why we are calling on Senate Democrats to fulfill their duties, put their politicking behind, and do what’s best for the country: keep the government open,” wrote Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “The proposed budget extension is a straightforward, bipartisan solution. There are no gimmicks or partisan poison pills; it’s a clean, short-term funding measure that both parties have historically supported.”

This clean short-term funding extension, which would extend the current funding deadline of September 30^th, passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support and awaits Senate approval.

“Holding the federal government funding hostage is not just a Washington D.C. debate for political points, it has real and immediate consequences in every state across America that cannot be overlooked,” continued Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “From impacting pay for our troops, first responders, and firefighters, to affecting critical services for seniors and veterans and disrupting food assistance for families in need, a government shutdown would inflict severe consequences on the American people that are completely avoidable. We urge the Senate to do the right thing and act swiftly to pass a clean funding extension.”

Governor Rhoden was joined in signing the letter by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

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