Nebraskans, representatives respond to government shutdown

By Sydney Babb, WOWT

(October 1, 2025)

The federal government officially shut down on Wednesday at midnight. Congress failed to reach an agreement on how to continue federal funding.

This is the first shutdown since 2018, which lasted 35 days. Today, less than 24 hours after that official announcement of the government shutdown, frustrated Omahans gathered outside of Neb. Representative Don Bacon’s office to voice their concerns.

“We need our house representatives to get back to work and start having those conversations in a bipartisan manner, in order to reopen our government. We need them to do their job,” said State Director of Nebraska for Us, Angie Lauritsen.

Today, Angie, along with several others, gathered outside of Bacon’s office demanding the government reverse cuts to Medicaid —something democratic leaders have been pushing for -- and end the government shutdown.

“I don’t think we should ever be cutting healthcare. It’s a basic essential service. And again no matter how you access your healthcare, Medicaid is an essential service. It keeps our workers working and our communities thriving. Those costs go up when we cut those programs, so we’ll end up paying for it anyways – dragging the fight on,” Morgan Rye-Craft, a lifelong Millard resident, told First Alert 6.

Bacon responded this afternoon.

“There’s concern, and I think legitimate concerns that a lot of lower-income and middle-income people will see their Obamacare, or excuse me, their healthcare premiums increase significantly. There’s a lot of republicans that are concerned about this as well, and there is opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to sit down on this important issue and negotiate this,” said Congressman Bacon.

For protestors like Angie and Morgan, it comes down to a willingness to negotiate.

Bacon also stressed the need for an end to the shutdown, showing his own concern for the average American and the shutdown’s effect on their livelihoods.

“If you’re a person, you know if you’re earning lower to mid-income, and you pay gets put on hold… a lot of folks are living paycheck to paycheck and that’s where the real cost is at,” explained Bacon.

The Senate did vote on a short-term bill to keep the government open for another seven weeks but fell short of the 60 votes needed.

Republicans control the Senate and the House. Many Republican leaders blame Democrats for the shutdown, while Democrats blame Republicans for refusing to negotiate.

Bacon, Neb. Representative Mike Flood and Sen. Pete Ricketts all said they can’t be sure when this shutdown will come to an end.