OJ OLEKA: A Political Shutdown That Doesn’t Need To Continue

“Every day gets better for us.” That’s how Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer gleefully described the ongoing federal government shutdown for his party in an interview this week.

Before that, a super PAC linked to Schumer circulated a memo bragging that Democrats are “winning” the shutdown fight and warning allies that it would be “a mistake to take the pressure off Republicans.” The group claims the showdown is a critical opportunity to define the stakes of the 2026 midterms, which they believe will center around healthcare and economic concerns.

While millions of Americans wonder how they will pay their bills without a paycheck, Democratic operatives are cynically calculating how to maximize leverage for next year’s election. Schumer’s allies are telling senators to “hold firm” and refuse compromise, even warning against any “vague GOP promises of talks later.” The focus isn’t on helping families—it’s on creating a winning “contrast” for campaign ads portraying themselves as fighting for their version of “affordable health care” while painting their opponents as embracing chaos.

Where Schumer and his party see partisan fortune worth celebrating, the American people see proof that Washington is broken again, and this time on purpose. To congressional Democrats, the debate is not about solving the shutdown; it’s about winning a political messaging war.

It is harder than ever to deny the ongoing shutdown is a crisis entirely manufactured by so-called progressives in Congress who have decided political point-scoring is more important than keeping the government open and serving Americans.

Here’s the unpleasant reality for Democrats: Most Americans do not want a shutdown, and at least 65% oppose federal healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants. Yet they choose to keep the government closed rather than vote for a funding bill nearly identical to what they supported earlier this year. Why? Because they are catering not to the nation, but to the ideologues of their base. Politicians like Schumer are terrified of far-left primary challenges in next year’s midterm elections. So instead of leading, liberal Washington politicians are letting themselves be led by the activist wing of their coalition, elevating rigid ideology over basic governance.

Conservatives have been consistent all along: stop the waste, keep the government open, and protect taxpayers. Progressives, on the other hand, are more intent on guaranteeing taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants than on paying the men and women who defend our freedom. That is not compassion. That is misplaced priorities.

Here’s the unpleasant reality for our country: Every day the shutdown drags on, Americans who depend on government paychecks, benefits, and services are left stranded. Every day, veterans are denied critical resources, our military and air traffic controllers continue to work without pay, and low-income mothers worry about feeding their children as the WIC program risks running out of money.

With that in mind, it becomes even more maddening that Senate Majority PAC’s strategy memo actually encouraged Democrats to keep the shutdown going as long as possible just because they think it’s a winning play for the next election. That is naked political theater, not leadership.

Right now, Congress should have one overriding priority: fund the government so our troops get paid, our borders are secured, and vital services reach the people who need them most. And right now, almost half of Congress thinks this is all just a game. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Across the nation, conservative state leaders are showing that fiscal responsibility works. States, often led by conservative financial officers, are balancing budgets, funding schools and infrastructure, and keeping workers paid, all without the drama and gridlock of Washington. And they are doing this while the federal debt nears an unsustainable $38 trillion. Washington could learn a thing or two from the states about living within its means.

The path forward is simple, and it doesn’t require waiting months for poll numbers to dictate action: Fund the government. Pay our troops. Secure our border. Respect taxpayers.

There is no excuse for this shutdown to continue, not when both parties have already shown they can agree on the basics. A significant majority of Congress has already voted for a clean Continuing Resolution, the same funding measure that passed with broad bipartisan support back in March. The difference now isn’t policy—it’s pure politics.

It’s time to reject the political hostage-taking of Washington’s activist class and deliver a government that works. Americans are tired of the brinkmanship. They’re tired of being used as pawns in a game of partisan advantage. Our citizens deserve a government that serves us, not a shutdown designed to score headlines and protect a few political careers.

Dr. OJ Oleka serves as CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF).

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/YouTube/Aaron Parnas)