WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to reconvene the House for over three weeks and his failure to bring Republicans back to work to negotiate an end to the Republican government shutdown.
 
“Speaker Johnson and House Republicans say they care about national security but can’t be bothered to come to work to address the very issues that are putting America’s national security and our service members at grave risk. President Trump and Speaker Johnson will negotiate with a known terrorist network like Hamas but refuse to negotiate with Democrats. The refusal of Republicans to come to work for over three weeks and negotiate, something done in every other government shutdown, is unprecedented. Our national security and the American people are paying a devastating price.
 
“Instead of prioritizing the millions of brave men and women who serve and protect our country, they have chosen to use them and hundreds of thousands of civilian workers as hostages in their campaign to force Democrats to vote for their autocratic government and reckless spending plan that does nothing to help millions of American’s facing massive health care cost hikes come November 1^st. They have apparently abandoned Congress’ duty to provide oversight and appear to be in lockstep with the Trump Administration’s sidelining of Congress as a co-equal branch of government to consolidate power into the president’s hands. This threatens the fundamentals of our democracy, the security of our country, and the very welfare of the American people.
 
“The consequences of the Republicans’ failure to focus on our national security as we face challenges and threats around the globe are grave. Their flat refusal to have Congress come back to work has effectively dissolved the House of Representatives. The threats to our national security are real and numerous.”

America’s Nuclear Deterrent Is Being Weakened

• The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is leaning into the Trump Administration’s attack on the civilian workforce responsible for our nuclear stockpile by choosing to furlough the majority of that workforce. This decision by the Administration is unprecedented and illustrates how far it will go to jeopardize our national security and global stability.

Servicemembers May Be Forced to Work Without Pay

• While Speaker Johnson and congressional Republicans refuse to convene Congress and come to work, nearly two million military personnel on active duty, including National Guard and Reservists on Federal orders, must continue to report for duty and carry out assigned orders.
• These service members will be forced to work without pay so long as Speaker Johnson refuses to convene Congress to do their jobs and reopen the government.
• The Republican shutdown disproportionally affects military families:
• One in five military families have only one source of income,
• One in four service members struggle to put food on the table,
• One in three service members live paycheck to paycheck, and
• Two in three military families have less than $3,000 in savings.

Servicemembers Are Losing Access to Vital Services

• Servicemembers and their families continue to have access to critical healthcare, but elective surgery and other routine medical and dental procedures have been stopped.
• TRICARE may not be able to process or pay medical claims for services received until funding is restored. 
• Department of Defense (DoD) Tuition Assistance has been paused, which prevents many members of the military from taking classes for their personal and professional development.
• Permanent changes of station have been significantly limited, which means families remain stuck at their current location, despite already having begun the process of moving. Preparations for schooling and childcare must be reconsidered and families that have already ended a lease or sold their homes need to find new housing arrangements.
• Critical capabilities for service members are being delayed.
• The military cannot enter into new contracts or renew existing contracts during the shutdown, needlessly delaying the acquisition of critical capabilities for our service members.

Civilian Defense Employees Aren’t Getting Paid

• Over 220,000 DoD civilians that perform critical national security activities must continue to report to work but will not be paid until the government is funded.
• Another 330,000 civilians have been furloughed, including military technicians.
• Essential maintenance performed by civilians has been stopped because of furloughs, which could force longer periods of equipment downtime and decreased combat readiness.

Current and Long-Term Combat Readiness Is Being Degraded

• Critical exercises have been delayed or cancelled, including activities to deter China through new capabilities testing, validating operational concepts, and informing force posture. Planning for large-scale military exercises has been postponed. 
• Ongoing intelligence that informs weapons development and predicts geopolitical conditions has been stopped, hurting our ability to equip our troops and prepare for future threats.
• The time to complete necessary Naval ship maintenance has increased and the growing backlog of repairs will be increasingly difficult to overcome once the government opens.

Essential Training Has Been Paused

• Military training and education have been slashed, preventing military personnel from acquiring and maintaining critical skills and certifications, reducing military readiness and delaying updates to operational plans. 
• The Army has cancelled approximately 150 professional military education (PME) courses, impacting nearly 5,000 personnel. 
• Critical training institutions like the Command and General Staff College, the Sergeants Major Academy, and Army War College have severe instructor shortages.
• Required training for Fire and Emergency Services and Naval Security Forces has been delayed.

 
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