1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

Today is day 9 of the government shutdown. This is on you and your republican counterparts. You are inflicting unnecessary hardship on millions of Americans, especially our military personnel and federal employees who are being forced to work without pay. These men and women put their lives on the line to defend our country and keep essential services running, yet they are now being treated as pawns in your political brinkmanship. It is Congress’s responsibility to uphold its most basic duty—to fund the government—and it is shameful and unacceptable to delay any longer. Pass the funding bill.