1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

Congress must act swiftly to avert a disruptive and unnecessary government shutdown that would harm millions of Americans. While some object to certain provisions in the current funding bill, shutting down the entire federal government is an extreme overreaction that will only breed chaos and suffering. Critical services will grind to a halt, federal workers will go unpaid, small businesses reliant on government operations will lose income, and taxpayer money will be wasted. This is unacceptable political brinkmanship. A short-term continuing resolution should be passed immediately to keep the government operational while thorough negotiations take place on a final spending package. Both parties must make reasonable compromises in good faith to fund priorities and reach an agreement that serves the national interest. Playing chicken with a shutdown puts partisan interests above the wellbeing of the nation. Representatives were elected to govern responsibly, not hold the country hostage to score political points. Act now to prevent this looming crisis and uphold your sworn duties to the American people.