1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent to demand that Congress pass a federal budget and put an end to the reckless cycle of government shutdown threats. A shutdown is not a negotiating tactic, it is a failure of leadership. When Congress refuses to do its job, real people pay the price. Members of the military and their families are forced to live with uncertainty about their pay while still being expected to serve. Federal workers and contractors are furloughed or required to work without pay, putting thousands of households under unnecessary financial strain through no fault of their own. Essential services are also placed at risk. Seniors and people with disabilities who depend on Social Security and related programs are left anxious about delays. Veterans face disruptions in care, benefits processing, and support services they earned through service. Families relying on nutrition assistance, housing programs, and public safety services are treated as leverage instead of constituents. This ongoing brinkmanship damages the economy, weakens public trust, and sends the message that political games matter more than the well-being of the people you represent. Governing means compromise, responsibility, and follow-through—not manufactured crises. You were elected to serve the public, not to gamble with their livelihoods. I expect you to work with your colleagues and pass a budget that keeps the government open and functioning. Anything less is unacceptable.