S.D. Democratic Party Executive Director Ahlers: Republicans are to blame for government shutdown, not Democrats

As the federal government grinds to another halt, Republicans are pointing fingers and branding this the “Schumer Shutdown.” But let’s be clear: the blame lies squarely at their feet.

This crisis wasn’t caused by Democratic obstruction — it was caused by Republicans’ refusal to govern responsibly, especially when it comes to health care and the basic needs of working Americans.

At the heart of the standoff are health-care subsidies that help keep coverage affordable for the working poor, small business owners, and rural Americans — including our farmers and ranchers. These subsidies aren’t handouts. They are essential tools that keep families afloat and communities healthy. But instead of working with Democrats to maintain these programs, Republicans are using the federal budget process to gut them.

Let’s not forget: it was Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, who supported the previous continuing resolution in March to give Republicans more time to negotiate. Democrats gave them that chance — and what did Republicans do with it? They passed the Rescissions Act of 2025, yanking funding that Congress had already approved for health care and social programs.

Then they doubled down passing Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill — a sweeping, destructive piece of legislation that makes massive cuts to essential services, undermining support for working families and straining already-overburdened state and local governments.

Now, faced with a shutdown of their own making, Republicans want to shift blame rather than solve problems. But Democrats aren’t playing along. They’re standing up for hard-working Americans and saying enough is enough.

Democrats need to demand what should be the bare minimum: a real, full-year federal budget. Not another short-term patch. A real budget that reflects the values of a country that believes in caring for its people. It has been over 20 years since Congress passed a budget on time.

The last time that happened was under President Clinton — a Democrat — who, by working with Republicans, helped deliver four straight years of balanced budgets from 1998 to 2001.

It’s time for Republicans to come to the table and work with Democrats to find a real solution and pass a budget. The American people deserve stability, not another shutdown caused by political games.

Here in South Dakota, we once had real leadership in Sen. Tom Daschle — someone who understood the importance of bipartisan cooperation and standing up for rural communities. We gave up that leadership for Sen. John Thune, who’s now had 20 years to show us that same kind of leadership. Maybe it’s finally time for him to step up.

This shutdown didn’t have to happen. It’s the result of misplaced priorities and a refusal to lead. While Republicans protect tax breaks for the wealthy, Democrats are fighting to protect health care, food assistance, and basic services for ordinary Americans. That’s a fight worth having — and it’s one the American deserve to win.

Dan Ahlers of Dell Rapids is the executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party and a former state legislator. He was the 2020 Democratic Senate candidate.

Photo: Congressional leaders haggling over the current shutdown, public domain, wikimedia commons

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