CTC Condemns the Recent Government Shutdown as Harmful and Wholly Avoidable

By The National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber, October 3, 2025

Change the Chamber calls out the government shutdown that’s putting public health, climate protections, and essential services at risk. Furloughing workers and stalling disaster response isn’t leadership, it’s sabotage of the people and planet Congress is meant to protect. (Full statement below.)

Change the Chamber is appalled at the lack of bipartisan negotiations in Congress that have led to the ongoing government shutdown. This shutdown will hinder essential government agencies and functions that are crucial to protecting our environment and climate. Change the Chamber is also deeply opposed to jeopardizing the job security of thousands of furloughed government employees from various agencies that are critical to maintaining a safe, livable environment for all Americans, regardless of their political ideologies. The threats to terminate these dedicated public servants from their jobs are egregious and unacceptable. Cutting jobs in the climate sector doesn’t save federal dollars–it only undermines our long-term ability to protect communities from costly extreme weather and pollution. Simultaneously, compromising our access to affordable healthcare is an outrageous demand. We applaud the lawmakers who will not back down and refuse to accept these conditions. 

Putting Americans at Risk 

Many families depend on federal programs like food assistance and healthcare. Due to the shutdown, the administration of these essential programs is likely to be delayed as staff are sent home and regional offices close their doors. Everyday American families are now at risk of not getting the basic support they need. Community health as a whole is also likely to suffer during the shutdown. Local health departments and regional offices may have trouble sharing important information and maintaining safety with a lack of data flowing from the federal government, especially during emergencies or natural disasters. 

Many federal workers have already experienced knee-jerk changes from the Administration regarding the shutdown, initially being told to work without pay, and receiving unclear directives on how their projects will continue. Abruptly changing its tone, the administration then ordered almost everyone to continue working. Promised federal projects were already defunded en masse before the shutdown, putting countless jobs at risk. With looming threats of further staffing cuts, federal employees are being asked to undertake unpaid work without a promise of future paid work, presenting a serious challenge to their workers’ rights. This unfair treatment of employees and significant defunding will inevitably cause activities to halt the longer the shutdown continues, and beyond.

The Immediate Environmental Cost

On-site activities around the country will be among the first to be affected during the shutdown, including compliance visits to industrial plants that help prevent severe public health crises. Without accountability, it can be expected that several entities will begin releasing waste into our air and water. This level of overcontamination can pose serious health risks and even lead to loss of life. The flow of waste will also likely fuel the need for more Superfund sites that require significant funding, oversight, a skilled workforce, and considerable time for remediation.

The shutdown exacerbates already existing budget shortfalls, thereby increasing the risk to our environment. Our national parks are threatened. Stretched beyond capacity due to previous funding cuts and now unpaid, these rangers are set up for failure, and damage from any extreme weather events will be near impossible to contain. Crimes could also increase as park personnel remain absent. This shutdown will result in a lack of critical support during the peak of hurricane season, putting American families and our land at risk. During this time, when we need reliable weather monitoring and disaster management the most, the National Weather Service will have to slow down its hiring, while FEMA has already been forced to furlough a large percentage of its workforce.

Our Ask for Congress and the Current Administration

As a coalition of young adults and allied organizations, we urge Congress and the current  Administration to consider the needs of everyday people and our climate. The people have elected each member of Congress to serve in the best interests of their constituents. We urge Congress to consider what will truly lead to a more secure and sustainable future when negotiations for government funding resume. As young adults, we want to know that the legislators we put in office are advocating for a stable, sensible government that considers the needs of our generation and those to come, rather than prioritizing the desires of billionaires and large corporations over the interests of constituents.

The National Climate Fellows at Change the Chamber

Change the Chamber is a nonpartisan coalition of young adults, 100+ student groups across the country, environmental justice and frontline community groups, and other allied organizations. To support our work, donate or join our efforts!