Waterloo Times

Congresswoman Ashley Hinson has issued a statement regarding the recent government shutdown, referring to it as the "Schumer shutdown." Hinson, who represents Iowa’s 2nd district in the U.S. Congress and has served since 2021 after replacing Abby Finkenauer, announced that she is withholding her pay during the shutdown.

“This is the Schumer shutdown. I voted to keep the government open and ensure our troops, border patrol agents, and other first responders are paid – while Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, are forcing this shutdown and abdicating their most basic job to score points with their far-Left base. Iowans deserve better than this chaos and dysfunction, and I urge my Democratic colleagues to work with us and stop demanding a hyper-partisan wish list, including giving illegal aliens taxpayer-funded benefits, to keep the government open,” Hinson said.

Hinson has supported several legislative efforts aimed at maintaining pay for servicemembers, first responders, and border patrol agents in case of a government shutdown. Among these bills are the Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act (H.R. 5260), which would guarantee continued salaries for U.S. Border Patrol agents and Customs officers; the Pay Our Troops Act (H.R. 5401), ensuring salary payments for active duty servicemembers and reserve components; and the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act (H.R. 5398), which would maintain salary payments for Department of Homeland Security personnel.

In a letter requesting her pay be withheld during the shutdown, Hinson stated: “As Congress approaches the September 30, 2025, deadline to reach an agreement on government funding, it is my understanding that Members of Congress will continue to receive their pay during a lapse in appropriations. Therefore, I am requesting that my pay be withheld in the event of such a lapse in appropriations on October 1, 2025, at 12:00 AM Eastern Time.”

She continued: “On September 19, 2025, the House passed a clean, bipartisan continuing resolution to extend government funding through mid-November... This is the Schumer Shutdown.” Hinson criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting this resolution and holding out for additional spending measures.

Hinson also addressed her concerns about the priorities of Democratic lawmakers: “It is disheartening that Democrats are opposing a clean continuing resolution in favor of their own radical bill that includes a hyper-partisan wish list in exchange for doing their most basic job. Democrats have made clear that they’re more focused on scoring political points than serving hardworking Americans. In fact, they’re going to embark on a ‘24-hour livestream’ instead of working on solutions for the American people.”

The congresswoman concluded her letter by confirming her request would remain in effect until legislation ends the lapse in appropriations.

Ashley Hinson was born in Des Moines in 1983 and lives in Marion. She previously served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2017 to 2021 before joining Congress. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 2004 with a bachelor's degree.