Columbia News

Rep. Mark Alford, who represents Missouri’s 4th district in the U.S. Congress, posted a series of statements on October 1, 2025, criticizing Democratic leadership for the federal government shutdown and its implications.

In his first post at 18:23 UTC, Alford wrote: " Welcome to Day 1 of Chuck Schumer’s Nightmare on Constitution Avenue. Democrats shut down the government to demand $1.5T in reckless spending and free healthcare for illegal aliens."

Later that evening at 19:05 UTC, he continued his criticism by stating: " Day 1 of the #SchumerShutdown Americans are being held hostage by Washington Democrats who put politics before people. Our troops will go unpaid, families will suffer… and all for $1.5 trillion in reckless spending. How long will Democrats keep the government shut down?"

Alford reiterated his stance at 20:25 UTC with another message: "Where does the buck stop? The buck stops with Chuck. This Schumer Shutdown is reckless. @HouseGOP voted for a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open and protect Missouri families."

The posts refer to ongoing disagreements in Congress over federal funding, resulting in a partial government shutdown attributed by some Republicans to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic demands regarding spending levels and healthcare provisions.

Alford has represented Missouri's 4th District since 2023 after succeeding Vicky Hartzler. He was born in Baytown, Texas, in 1963, currently resides in Lake Winnebago, and holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin earned in 1988.