KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The government shutdown has officially ended after President Trump signed a spending bill to fund the government through Jan. 30.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-TN District 2, said it’s a relief to get this done to help those on SNAP and pay federal employees again.
“I’m glad that we finally did our job and quit using them as pawns. Hopefully we won’t be back in this same scenario in January,” Rep. Burchett said.
WVLT News spoke to Rep. Chuck Fleischman, R-TN District 3, ahead of Wednesday night’s vote. He said he was optimistic it would pass.
“I have been whipping, asking people, and so far I have received yes’s from every Republican I have spoken with including myself. I will be a yes vote,” Rep. Fleischmann said.
He added that he doesn’t believe in shutting down the government at all and it should have never dragged on this long.
“Just make sure that Women, Infants and Children get their proper benefits. Make sure that SNAP recipients get their proper benefits. No one in America should go hungry,” Rep. Fleischmann said.
We did receive a statement from Rep. Fleischmann’s office after the vote which stated:
“From the beginning of the Democrats’ Government Shutdown, beginning on September 19, when I voted for the clean, non-partisan Continuing Resolution (C.R.) to keep our government open, I have said that this government shutdown – purposely caused by Democrat politicians like Chuck Schumer – was indefensible and a farce on the American People. Shutting down the government is always wrong, yet Democrats chose to cause innocent Americans unnecessary pain for over 42 days
For 42 days, Americans who rely on SNAP benefits have been in turmoil. For 42 days, federal workers like air traffic controllers, TSA agents, Border Patrol, and patriots in Oak Ridge who keep our nuclear deterrent secure have not been paid. For 42 days, Democrats have chosen to grind the basic functions of government to a halt, regardless of the consequences. For 42 days, the American People have paid the price for Democrats’ political games. We cannot ever let a shutdown of this magnitude and length ever happen again.
Tonight was one of the easiest votes I have taken in Congress. I will never vote to shut down our government and cause Americans needless pain. I am glad some Democrats have seen the error of their ways and worked with me and my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate to reopen our government.
With passage of this bill to reopen our government, we now have time before the new January 30 deadline to pass the remaining Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) appropriations bills, including my FY26 Energy and Water bill, which passed the House earlier this year. I hope Democrats will work with us to pass commonsense, bipartisan FY26 appropriations bills that meet the American People’s needs and will not force another needless government shutdown on our nation.”
Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-TN District 1, also sent WVLT News a statement.
“Democrats caused unnecessary pain for families, farmers, federal workers and our service members during their shutdown charades. As the government opens back up, I hope Democrats have learned their lesson that the lives of the American people should never be used as political bargaining chips.”
WVLT News did reach out to Tennessee’s lone Democratic congressman, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-TN District 9, for comment. His office has not gotten back to us.
This spending bill will fund the government through Jan. 30.
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