The federal government is in the process of recovering from a historic shutdown, now the longest in history, surpassing the previous record of 35 days. Recent negotiations in Washington hint at a breakthrough. What has this landmark episode taught us about ourselves and how the government functions? Hundreds of thousands of workers across the country were furloughed and missed paychecks, and communities nationwide felt the severe effects of the shutdown in their daily lives.
For Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon, the reason behind the shutdown was simple: “Every year, we’re supposed to do a budget, and if you don’t get the budget done, you have a shutdown. ” The Senate came up just short of the 60 votes needed to pass a Continuing Resolution, or CR, which allows the government to keep running by spending at last year’s budget until a new one’s approved.
The consequences have rippled through the nation, as “all federal employees have stopped getting their paychecks,” Congressman Bacon said, adding that the temporary funding for the military may run out soon as well. At the same time, the President has temporarily found money to pay the military, “that [this] probably will not be the same again in two weeks, if the shutdown continues.”
Beyond financial strain, Congressman Bacon worries about what this moment says about the ongoing events in Washington. “Well, I think that the perception is that we have a dysfunctional government, and I would think to a degree, we do,” he reflected. With national security programs paused and the economy unsettled, he believes that the shutdown “hurts the levels of confidence our citizens have in our country. We are the greatest country in the world, and we’re blessed, but due to dysfunction in Congress, and both sides not willing to compromise, we are where we’re at.”
Still, Congressman Bacon is focused on keeping the government open and doing so without political games: “Republicans voted for a clean Continuing Resolution, totally clean, no political strings attached.” He highlights that for years, passing a Continuing Resolution has been the “bipartisan way to do these things” and pointed to recent cooperation on healthcare as proof that compromise is possible. “I’ve been trying to reach out and, like we put out a press release today (November 03, 2025)… two democrats and two republicans saying, we know how we can solve these ACA tax credits…So we’re trying to show that we can work together, and if we can do it, so can the Senate. My goal is to try and find ways to get the government open, in a bi-partisan way that doesn’t go against my principles or values, that’s what I’m trying to do right now.”
This message of collaboration runs through his career. As a founding member of the Four Country Caucus, which comprises approximately 30 Republicans and 30 Democrats, and a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, with similar numbers, Congressman Bacon works to find common ground even in tense moments. As the shutdown technically drags on, with a vote on the Bill to reopen the government pending his commitment to bipartisan problem-solving, it faces one of its toughest tests yet.
Congressman Bacon understands why people are frustrated, noting that people, “Should feel frustration and irritation. It’s a sign of dysfunction that this has happened, and I frankly don’t excuse it.” However, he hopes voters channel that frustration constructively, working together to find solutions during these challenging times and holding government members accountable. That frustration, he suggests, should become motivation, not apathy.
Democracy, he reminded, has never been tidy. Quoting Winston Churchill, he frames it this way: “It has been said that Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried.” Congressman Bacon added, “It’s messy, it’s always going to be messy, but hopefully we elect people that raise the bar, and try to be above the pettiness.” Despite the messiness, he maintains optimism that democratic values will ultimately prevail.
For federal employees worried about missed paychecks, he offered reassurance: “ In every shutdown, federal workers have received their back pay, and I fully expect it to happen again this time.” Still, the uncertainty has taken a toll, as families across the country brace for financial strain while awaiting a resolution that appears to be on the horizon.
And for young people watching the chaos unfold, he offered encouragement drawn from history: “Our greatest leaders have suffered defeat in their lives,” he said, pointing to Lincoln, Washington, and Reagan as examples. His assessment and advice regarding the future of American politics were simple, yet powerful: “If good people are not involved in the United States government, by default bad people will run our government.” Politics may be messy, he admitted, but “if you do the right things, and you work hard, you try to be a good character, be a good person to other people, but in the end, good things happen.” It’s a message rooted in resilience, a reminder that growth often occurs from moments of frustration and failure.
