Nebraska Panhandle News

Senator Pete Ricketts, a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, has recently addressed the ongoing government shutdown and legislative activity in a series of posts on his official Twitter account.

On October 16, 2025, Ricketts criticized Democratic leaders over the federal government shutdown, often referred to as the "Schumer Shutdown," stating: "There is only one bipartisan proposal to end the Schumer Shutdown.  I’ve voted for it ten times.  Democrats need to end their hypocrisy.  Let’s come together, work for our communities, and reopen the government."

The following day, October 17, 2025, Ricketts highlighted continued Republican legislative efforts despite the impasse. He wrote: "Despite the Schumer Shutdown, @SenateGOP is still hard at work. We passed the Road to Housing Act as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is landmark legislation that will put us on a path to make home ownership a possibility for all Americans."

Later on October 17, he also posted about an upcoming sports event involving his state's team: "Excited to watch the Cornhuskers take on Minnesota today. It’s been a great season so far. GO BIG RED!"

Government shutdowns occur when Congress fails to pass funding legislation or when such bills are vetoed by the President. During these periods, many federal agencies cease non-essential operations until appropriations are enacted again.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is an annual bill that outlines budget and expenditures for the Department of Defense and related activities. The inclusion of measures like the Road to Housing Act in larger bills such as NDAA is common practice in Congress.

Senator Pete Ricketts represents Nebraska in the U.S. Senate and has previously served as Governor of Nebraska.