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If there’s one thing Montanan Rep. Ryan Zinke made crystal clear on Newsmax’s Wake Up America, it’s that Congress must stop playing political games and get back to the appropriations process before more Americans pay the price. Zinke warned that shutting down the government is always a bad idea and stressed the urgency of reopening operations so essential services aren’t crippled. Lawmakers on both sides should swallow their pride, negotiate like adults, and fund the people who elected them.
The American Federation of Government Employees has publicly urged a clean continuing resolution to end the shutdown, a call Zinke said could “make a difference” as the standoff drags on. He reminded viewers that the shutdown is not abstract — it costs roughly $400 million a day and chips away at programs like WIC and SNAP that vulnerable families rely on. Washington’s infighting is not a victimless exercise; it punishes ordinary Americans who expect their government to function.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Zinke knows the mechanics and warned the longer the paralysis continues the worse the damage: maintenance contracts lapse, research stalls, and infrastructure atrophies. He was blunt — we won’t have unsafe skies, but we will have more delays and real disruptions for travelers and small businesses. Conservatives should demand responsible funding that secures borders and funds our priorities without hostage-taking or ideological grandstanding.
Let’s be honest about who is running out the clock: Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked clean bills that would reopen the government, choosing political leverage over people’s paychecks and services. Some of our colleagues rightly point to the Democratic caucus’ internal dynamics — the fear of the far left driving extremism within their ranks — as a reason they won’t compromise. If Schumer and his allies won’t put Americans first, it’s on Republican leaders to both negotiate smartly and call out the obstruction.
This dysfunction isn’t new; conservatives like Sen. Ron Johnson have been sounding the alarm for years about Congress’ failure to pass appropriations on time and have proposed concrete fixes to eliminate shutdowns. We need structural changes — automatic short-term continuing resolutions or other commonsense reforms — so the bureaucracy can’t be held hostage by political theater every fiscal year. A responsible majority should legislate like it loves this country, not like it’s auditioning for cable news.
Zinke’s message was plain and patriotic: return to the appropriations process, do the hard work of governing, and stop weaponizing the livelihoods of working Americans for political points. He even praised constructive diplomatic outreach where it advances American interests, showing a conservative willingness to lead on both domestic stewardship and foreign affairs when it matters. Congress must choose results over rhetoric — the American people deserve nothing less.
