Trump’s shutdown guts vital federal safeguards, including disaster relief, clean energy, and worker protections 

WASHINGTON, DC — The American people are faced today with a major shutdown of the federal government, but the Trump Administration has been slowly shutting down the government for months. Since Inauguration Day, the Trump Administration has rapidly eroded critical functions of the federal government, especially at the Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Administration has wrongfully terminated federal workers, cancelled clean energy programs that would have lowered energy costs, delayed or cancelled grants to rebuild communities after extreme weather events, and stalled climate research efforts to better protect Americans.   

Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund, released this statement:

“Let’s be clear, no one wants a government shutdown. But the stakes are high and we must defend our right to a democracy, our right to a safe climate, and our right to personal safety in our communities. Members of Congress who have stood up for these rights against attacks from the Trump Administration must not waver and instead use their leverage to negotiate a pathway that reopens the government, implements guardrails to restrict the Administration from withholding or spending funds in ways that are very different from Congress’s intent, and protects families and communities across the country. 

The Administration’s unwillingness to negotiate but rather prepare to use the shutdown as an opportunity to fire more federal workers and permanently destroy programs focused on protecting American families continues to demonstrate the cruelty with which Trump governs.  

Government shutdowns are painful, but the pain the Trump Administration has inflicted on the American people has arguably been even worse. Trump and his allies had a plan all along: force support for a bill that withholds critical funds or shut the government down. Reopening the government in a bipartisan way is the only path forward.” 

# # #

Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions, focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success, so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.