U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) addressed the ongoing issue of government shutdowns in a statement released on Apr. 10, saying these shutdowns harm the American people and calling for legislative action to prevent them in the future.
Grassley said that repeated lapses in approved funding have led to several major government shutdowns since 1981, causing delays in services, furloughs for federal workers, and economic losses totaling tens of billions of dollars. He criticized the use of shutdowns as political leverage and highlighted recent events, including a full federal government shutdown lasting 42 days from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, 2025, and an ongoing partial shutdown beginning Feb. 14, 2026.
“It’s inconceivable the Democrat Minority Leaders in Congress are putting partisan grandstanding before homeland security, particularly when the U.S. military is engaged in conflict with Iran,” Grassley said. He emphasized that withholding funding from the Department of Homeland Security puts national security at risk while frontline employees work without pay.
To address this issue, Grassley announced he has partnered with Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma to reintroduce the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act: “Our legislation would take government shutdowns off the table as a negotiating tool.” The bill proposes that if appropriation bills are not completed on time, funding would continue at previous year levels and Congress would be required to remain in Washington until agreements are reached.
Grassley’s background includes serving on key Senate committees and advocating bipartisan policymaking according to his official website. He has represented Iowa as its longest-serving U.S. senator and is also one of only two farmers currently serving in the Senate according to his official website. His experience spans work as a sheet metal shearer and assembly line worker according to his official website, along with service in Iowa’s state legislature from 1958 to 1974 according to his official website.
Grassley’s commitment extends beyond legislation; he assists Iowans with issues involving federal agencies and whistleblowers according to his official website. Married since 1954 with five children according to his official website, he earned degrees in political science from the University of Northern Iowa according to his official website.
Looking ahead, Grassley’s proposed bill would implement automatic continuing resolutions during funding lapses while restricting congressional travel until appropriations bills pass: “We can’t allow government shutdowns to become ‘business-as-usual.’”
