Sierra Club Statement on Looming Trump Shutdown

Washington, DC - Despite having control of the White House and majorities in both chambers of Congress, Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans are preparing to allow the federal government to shut down tonight at midnight. The shutdown comes as agencies are already experiencing massive funding cuts and reductions in staff as the Trump administration continues its mass firing efforts and illegal rescissions across government.

With only a handful of agencies having released their contingency plans for the pending lapse in government funding, it's unclear exactly which government services will be impacted. Past shutdowns have closed national parks, limited inspections of drinking water and superfund sites, left seniors and veterans uncertain about their medical care, and jeopardized disaster recovery efforts. Congressional Republicans have so far refused to negotiate with Democrats on a bipartisan funding solution.

In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:

"The American people deserve a government that works on their behalf and a system capable of providing the necessary services that families, seniors, veterans, and schoolchildren alike all rely on. Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans have made it clear they do not agree. This shutdown is the sorry result of an administration that has steered us in the wrong direction, and sadly it will be the American people that suffer as a result of these institutional failures."

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About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.