Fargo Standard

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) has issued a statement regarding the recent government shutdown, attributing it to Senate Democrats’ funding demands. Fedorchak criticized the Senate for rejecting funding levels they had previously supported and for advancing what she described as a "$1.5 trillion partisan wish list."

"Instead of supporting the very funding levels they enacted and voted for multiple times, Senate Democrats chose to shut down the government to push a $1.5 trillion partisan wish list," Fedorchak said. "That list includes eliminating the health section of the Working Families Tax Cut plan—opening the door to taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants, reinstating the Biden admin’s one-size-fits-all staffing mandate that would be devastating to North Dakota nursing homes, and wiping out the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund. These are nonstarters. North Dakotans don’t support this $1.5 trillion wish list nor will I."

On September 19, 2025, the House passed a Continuing Resolution (CR), which would have extended current government funding for seven weeks until November 21, 2025. The CR was intended as a short-term measure to maintain existing spending levels while Congress continued negotiations on fiscal year 2026 appropriations.

The CR required at least 60 votes in the Senate but did not pass due to opposition from Senate Democrats. According to Fedorchak, this led directly to a lapse in government funding and triggered the shutdown.

Fedorchak outlined several elements included in the Democrat-supported resolution that she opposes: removing work requirements for able-bodied adults on Medicaid; restoring taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants; eliminating measures designed to prevent waste and fraud in Medicaid; reinstating federal staffing mandates for nursing homes; repealing funds aimed at supporting rural health facilities; and rescinding border security provisions from earlier legislation.

She stated her continued opposition: "North Dakotans don’t support this $1.5 trillion wish list nor will I."

The alternate proposal backed by Democrats would increase daily government spending by an estimated $48.39 billion over one month.

For additional information on Fedorchak’s position or resources related to the shutdown, constituents are encouraged to visit her official channels.