Columbia News

Rep. Mark Alford, a member of the U.S. Congress representing Missouri’s 4th district since 2023, used his social media platform on October 9, 2025, to criticize Democratic lawmakers over the ongoing government shutdown, which he refers to as the "Schumer Shutdown."

In a post published at 18:19 UTC, Alford stated, "Day 9 of the Schumer Shutdown & for the SEVENTH time, Democrats have voted to keep the government SHUT DOWN. That’s seven votes AGAINST paying our troops, AGAINST supporting our Border Patrol, AGAINST getting federal workers back on the job, and AGAINST keeping our skies safe."

Later that day at 19:12 UTC, Alford commented on remarks attributed to Senator Chuck Schumer by writing, "Schumer on the Schumer Shutdown: 'every day gets better for us…' Tell that to the families missing paychecks. Tell that to our troops waiting for their next deposit."

In another post at 20:15 UTC, Alford highlighted local concerns by quoting a constituent: "A local veteran tells Schumer: 'Get back to work!' The #SchumerShutdown isn't just affecting the swamp—it’s harming everyday Americans and veterans in the Fourth District. Watch him talk about how the Schumer Shutdown is impacting his VA healthcare and one of our caseworkers".

Alford has represented Missouri's 4th district since replacing Vicky Hartzler in 2023. Born in Baytown, Texas in 1963 and currently residing in Lake Winnebago, Alford holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin (1988). The ongoing government shutdown has led to suspended paychecks for federal employees and military personnel and has affected various public services across the country.