FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2025
Independent Center Reacts to Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, DC – Because of Congress’s inability to pass a short-term continuing resolution (CR), the federal government shut down on Wednesday. The Senate continued to vote down dueling CRs, as Republicans and Democrats wait for the other side to bring the stalemate over government funding to an end.
Reacting to the government shutdown, Independent Center President Lura Forcum said, “Passing government funding bills is the most basic responsibility that Congress has. The deadline to pass government funding hasn’t changed. It has been the same date for roughly 50 years. What has changed is that Republican and Democratic are barely speaking to each other, let alone negotiating.”
Congress has not passed any of the 12 regular appropriations bills on time since the FY 2019 appropriations cycle. Smaller majorities make compromise more important than ever—but in our hyper-partisan politics, party bases treat it like betrayal.
Forcum said, “This is what the hyper-partisan political atmosphere has brought us. There are no winners in a government shutdown. And while Republicans and Democrats are busy assigning blame, independents are more likely to blame both parties in Congress for this fundamental failure of the administration and Congress to negotiate a funding deal. The partisan bitterness is why the ranks of people identifying as independents have grown and will continue to grow.”
###
The Independent Center is the go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, who now make up the plurality of the electorate. We represent those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. We believe the future is not red or blue; it’s fiscally responsible, socially inclusive, and free to choose the best options for ourselves, our families, and our communities.
###
The Independent Center is the go-to organization for information, research, and engagement with independent voters, who now make up the majority of the electorate. We represent those who are fed up with partisan politics and feel politically homeless. We believe the future is not red or blue; it’s fiscally responsible, socially inclusive, and free to choose the best options for ourselves, our families, and our communities.