Fact Sheet: How Republicans' Government Shutdown Would Hurt Maine Families

• Jeopardizes paychecks and jobs for civil servants. A shutdown could force more than 2 million federal employees and 1.3 million active-duty servicemembers nationwide to work without pay, while some agencies have already been told to prepare for permanent layoffs. In Maine, that means military servicemembers and more than 12,000 federal workers are facing missed paychecks because of the Republican shutdown.
• Rising health care costs. Susan Collins and Senate Republicans are pushing policies that will drive premiums up by letting Affordable Care Act tax credits expire in 2026. Without action, more than 70,000 Mainers could see significantly higher costs for the health insurance they rely on or lose coverage altogether.
• Disrupts Social Security and Medicare services. Benefit checks would keep going out, but seniors and people with disabilities would see halted benefit verifications, delayed card replacements, and longer, frustrating wait times for essential help.
• Threatens food security. Programs like SNAP, which help nearly 7 million women and children put food on the table, would run out of funding within days. More than 179,000 Mainers rely on SNAP every month.
• Cuts off small business support. The Small Business Administration would stop processing new loans, creating turmoil for entrepreneurs and local businesses.
• Disrupts disaster relief. FEMA’s capacity to respond to hurricanes, wildfires, and floods would be constrained, leaving families in harm’s way.
• Hamstring air travel. TSA agents and air traffic controllers would work without pay, risking staffing shortages, flight delays, and longer lines at airports from Portland to Bangor, Houlton, and more.

When given the chance to avert a shutdown and address alarming insurance spikes in Maine, Collins dismissed efforts to keep costs from going up, labeling them a “poison pill.”

“Republicans like Senator Collins are making life less affordable at every turn,” said Senate Majority PAC Press Secretary Christyna Thompson. “Maine families were already stretched thin with rent, groceries, and health care bills. Now they’re facing missed paychecks, rising premiums, and vital programs on the chopping block. This proves Republicans couldn’t care less about making life affordable for working people; they’re too busy trying to score political points. Senator Collins should have worked with Democrats to keep the government open. Instead, she chose chaos, and it’s the people of Maine paying the price.”

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