System Restart: The Real Fight Continues

Good evening. After 43 long days, the government shutdown is over. The system is restarting.

My first thoughts are with everyone who was caught in the middle of this. Our federal workers and military families who had to endure weeks of reporting for duty without knowing when their paycheck would come.

And just as importantly, my thoughts are with our neighbors—our seniors, our veterans, and families with children—who were left anxiously wondering if the vital services they depend on, like SNAP, would be there for them.

To all our public servants, you will be receiving your back pay, but I know that doesn't erase the hardship. You have our profound gratitude. The anxiety this system failure caused for so many, especially during this period of staggering unaffordability, is unprecedented.

This shutdown was never the real fight. It was a symptom of a much larger, ongoing crisis.

The real fight is about a Republican administration that is out of touch with the realities of the world we live in. Specifically, the looming healthcare affordability crisis that will affect millions of Americans—our families, our friends, and our neighbors.

That crisis is not over. That fight continues today.

What we've learned is that our most basic systems—our healthcare, our food security, our government functions—are fragile. They are vulnerable to partisan chaos.

So, while this 'system restart' is a relief, it is not a solution. The underlying vulnerabilities remain. Our job now is to re-focus, re-engage, and continue the fight for a stable, affordable, and functional system that serves all Americans.

Thank you again for those who sacrificed. The work continues.