U.S. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, who has represented Tennessee’s 3rd district since 2011, used his social media platform on October 1, 2025, to criticize Democratic lawmakers over the ongoing government shutdown.
In a post made at 4:48 a.m. UTC, Fleischmann wrote, “The Democrat Shutdown is avoidable and stupid. There’s a clean, non-partisan, short-term CR that would keep our government open, but it’s being blocked by Democrats and collecting dust on Chuck Schumer’s desk. The pain this shutdown causes is squarely on Democrats’ shoulders.”
Later that day, at 3:27 p.m. UTC, he addressed the financial impact of the shutdown, stating, “Every single day that the Democrat Shutdown continues will cost taxpayers $400 MILLION daily in backpay for furloughed federal workers. Hardworking taxpayers and families are paying the costly bill for Democrats’ harmful government shutdown.”
In another post at 4:13 p.m. UTC, Fleischmann added, “Democrats care more about pointless political games to appease the radical Far Left rather than keeping our government open and working for hardworking Americans. It’s sad to see the harmful mess Democrats are causing with their government shutdown.”
Fleischmann, who was born in New York City in 1962 and currently resides in Chattanooga, has been a member of Congress since 2011, succeeding Zach Wamp. He holds a BA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a JD from the University of Tennessee.
The comments come amid heightened partisan debate over government funding and the consequences of a federal shutdown. According to Fleischmann, each day the shutdown continues increases costs to taxpayers due to back pay for furloughed federal workers.
