Craig Brandt, a State Senator for New Mexico, has criticized U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich for their opposition to resolutions and targeted funding bills. According to Brandt, this opposition has prolonged the federal shutdown and put workers at risk. His statement was made on the New Mexico Senate Republicans' YouTube Channel.
"Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich voted to use the people of New Mexico as pawns," said Craig W. Brandt. "A government shutdown that was caused by our very own U.S. senators. Trump didn't sue, the states sued. They voted against the military."
The 2025 federal shutdown reached a significant point on November 10 when the U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan plan to reopen the government, sending it to the House of Representatives. The stalemate, which lasted 41 days, centered around whether to attach extensions of Affordable Care Act subsidies. Democrats advocated for at least a one-year extension, while Republicans argued that policy debates should be postponed. The extended impasse disrupted services and pay for federal employees and contractors.
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the 2025 shutdown could potentially reduce up to 2% from the fourth quarter GDP and permanently erase between $7 billion and $14 billion in output, depending on its duration. By day 29 of the shutdown, approximately 750,000 federal workers were furloughed due to halted wages, delayed procurement, and broader spillovers affecting private activity. While much of this impact is eventually recovered, not all losses are recouped, according to CBO.
Essential aviation personnel have been working without pay during the shutdown. Reuters reports that about 13,000 air traffic controllers and roughly 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are required to work without compensation. Staffing-related delays have surged to account for 53% of all delays with more than 15,000 flights delayed in one week alone. Rising absenteeism and fatigue have forced Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) traffic slowdowns, leading to increased cancellations and placing additional strain on both workers and travelers.
Craig W. Brandt is a Republican member of the New Mexico State Senate representing District 40 since his first election in 2012. Re-elected in 2024, his current term extends into 2028. Brandt previously served as vice president of the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oklahoma Baptist University. In Santa Fe, he has sponsored measures related to education, crime prevention, and taxation while serving on key committees.
