Jay Block, a Senator from New Mexico, has attributed the ongoing U.S. government shutdown to the Democratic Party's demand for $1.5 trillion in partisan spending. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"Clean CR Democrats, you've done it before and Schumer has voted for a clean CR 29 times to keep the gov open," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "This is on the radical Democrats, and them alone. To end the shutdown, Democrats are DEMANDING $1.5 TRILLION in new partisan spending. This is an unserious proposal made by unserious people."
The federal government has been shut down since October 1, 2025, as Congress continues to debate a short-term continuing resolution (CR) aimed at reopening government agencies. According to Reuters, negotiations are currently focused on whether the CR should be "clean" or include policy changes, with the Senate facing difficulties in advancing funding bills. The White House has also frozen approximately $11 billion in Army Corps projects amid this legislative standoff.
Budget analysts have estimated that a Democratic alternative CR discussed in October would add around $1.5 trillion to the federal debt over ten years. This plan involves pairing a short extension with repealing health-savings provisions and permanently extending enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reported on October 14, 2025, that these measures contribute to the $1.5 trillion figure.
Historically, from fiscal year 1977 to fiscal year 2025, Congress has enacted 207 continuing resolutions, with at least one occurring in all but three years during this period. The Congressional Research Service notes that CRs often include "anomalies," and there is no official count of truly "clean" CRs passed by the Senate, indicating that reliance on CRs is common while clean versions are relatively rare.
Senator Jay C. Block is a Republican member of the New Mexico Senate representing District 12 and has been serving since January 1, 2025. His official listing confirms his party affiliation and membership in the state's upper chamber, where he has participated in sponsoring legislation during the current session of the New Mexico Legislature.
