Columbia News

At midnight on October 1, 2025, the federal government entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass funding legislation. According to Congressman Mark Alford, who represents Missouri’s 4th district in the U.S. House of Representatives, the shutdown resulted from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over spending priorities.

Congressman Alford stated that nearly two weeks earlier, he and other House Republicans had passed a continuing resolution aimed at keeping the government open until November 21, 2025. He said, “Every single House Democrat except one voted to shut down the government. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, also repeatedly voted to shut down the government by denying the votes necessary for the clean CR to overcome the Senate filibuster.”

Alford described the situation as “a Schumer Shutdown.” He highlighted that his offices in Missouri and Washington, D.C., will remain open during this period. “Throughout the shutdown, Congressman Alford’s offices in Missouri and Washington, D.C. will remain open with staff available to serve our constituents. Whether it’s questions about legislation, or issues with federal agencies and benefits like Social Security, Medicare, and Veterans Affairs, our office will remain open and working for the residents of Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District,” Alford said.

Residents can reach out through his official website or by telephone at numbers provided for Raymore, Lebanon, Columbia, and Washington D.C.

The shutdown affects several federal services. These include furloughs for thousands of employees; delayed paychecks for military personnel; interruptions in Veterans Affairs services such as education benefits support and outreach programs; lapses in low-income rental assistance; a halt to the National Flood Insurance Program during hurricane season; disruptions in food assistance through WIC; impacts on firefighter pay; pauses on Small Business Administration loans; delays in law enforcement paychecks; and interruptions to home healthcare initiatives for low-income and Medicare patients.

Mark Alford has served as U.S. Representative for Missouri's 4th District since 2023 (https://alford.house.gov/about). He succeeded Vicky Hartzler when he took office. Born in Baytown, Texas in 1963, Alford lives in Lake Winnebago. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988.