Minnesota Senate Committee to Examine Local Fallout from Federal Government Shutdown

Minnesota Senate Committee to Examine Local Fallout from Federal Government Shutdown

RICHFIELD, Minn. — As the federal government shutdown stretches into its third week, Minnesota lawmakers are taking steps to assess its impact on residents and the state’s economy. The Minnesota Senate’s Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability will hold a public roundtable discussion on Thursday, October 23, to examine how the ongoing funding lapse is affecting federal workers, local programs, and community stability across the state.

The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at El Tejaban Restaurant (6519 Nicollet Ave, Richfield). The session is open to the press, and Committee Chair Senator Lindsey Port (DFL–Burnsville) and other members will be available for interviews following the discussion.

The meeting comes amid one of the longest shutdowns in U.S. history. The current federal funding impasse, which began on October 1, 2025, has forced an estimated 900,000 federal employees to take unpaid furloughs, while another 2 million continue working without immediate pay, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Although critical services such as Social Security payments and Transportation Security Administration operations continue, they do so with limited staffing and mounting strain on workers.

Formed in September 2025, the Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability was created to evaluate how federal decisions affect the state’s residents and institutions. Chaired by Senator Port, the bipartisan panel has previously held hearings on federal changes to healthcare, food assistance, and housing programs. Thursday’s roundtable in Richfield will specifically focus on the economic and social consequences of the prolonged federal shutdown.

Participants will include:

• Senator Lindsey Port, Committee Chair
• Members of the Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability
• Federal workers and labor leaders
• State and local officials

The subcommittee’s goal is to gather firsthand accounts and data from affected individuals and organizations to help state leaders identify vulnerabilities and prepare for potential cascading impacts should the shutdown continue.

“The roundtable will allow us to hear directly from Minnesotans whose livelihoods are on the line,” Senator Port said in announcing the session. “Our job at the state level is to make sure we understand where the federal shutdown is hitting hardest — and how Minnesota can respond.”

The creation of the subcommittee reflects a growing recognition within the state legislature that federal policy shifts can have immediate and far-reaching implications for Minnesota families, businesses, and local governments. The subcommittee’s mandate includes monitoring disruptions to federal funding streams, contracts, and services — and exploring ways state agencies might cushion the effects on critical programs.

Thursday’s roundtable follows a series of similar forums hosted across Minnesota, including previous discussions on healthcare costs and federal food assistance programs. Chair Port has emphasized that these sessions are designed not only to inform state lawmakers but also to amplify the voices of workers and communities most affected by federal policy uncertainty.

The Richfield discussion marks the subcommittee’s latest step in a continuing effort to translate national developments in Washington into actionable understanding for Minnesota.

Event Details
What: Roundtable on the impacts of the federal government shutdown on Minnesota workers and programs
When: Thursday, October 23, 2025 – 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: El Tejaban Restaurant, 6519 Nicollet Ave, Richfield, MN
Who: Senator Lindsey Port (Chair), members of the Senate Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability, federal employees, labor leaders, and local officials

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