Roger Marshall Says Government Should Stay Shut Down: “Let the Democrats Dangle From the End of the Rope”

TOPEKA, KS — As Kansans are hit with rising health care premiums and federal workers go without pay, Sen. Roger Marshall dug in on keeping the government shut down, saying Republicans should “let the Democrats dangle from the end of the rope.”

As Marshall chooses not to fix the healthcare crisis he created, Kansas Democratic Party Chair Jeanna Repass released the following statement:

“While Kansas federal workers aren’t being paid and children and seniors go hungry, Roger Marshall is purposely keeping the government shut down just to score cheap political points. Instead of fighting for Kansans and finding a way to bring down health care costs, Marshall wants Democrats to ‘dangle from the end of the rope.’ To be clear, Senator Marshall: It’s Kansas families who are the ones hurting because of your refusal to open the government and fix the healthcare crisis you created. Kansans deserve better, and it’s why you’ll lose your job next November.”

Topeka Capital-Journal: Roger Marshall says to “let the Democrats dangle from the end of the rope” By Jason Alatidd November 4, 2025

With the federal government shutdown dragging on for more than a month, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, is joining President Donald Trump in discouraging Republicans from negotiating with Democrats to end the shutdown.

"It's important that Republicans stay together, that we don't negotiate against ourselves here, and just let the Democrats dangle from the end of the rope for a while," Marshall said.

The government has been shut down since Oct. 1 because Congress, which is controlled by Republicans, failed to pass either its appropriations legislation or a continuing resolution.

To pass a continuing resolution to fund the government for a few weeks, the Senate needs at least some Democrats to vote with the Republican majority. Democrats are trying to negotiate for health care policy, especially an extension of subsidies for Obamacare health insurance premiums. Marshall indicated he is unwilling to talk about the Affordable Care Act subsidies until after the government is reopened.

"But now the courts, as you may know, have forced us to take some other disaster money and spend it two more weeks of funding for SNAP."

Trump has shown no interest in negotiating with Democrats. He said in an Oct. 31 interview that aired Nov. 2 on "60 Minutes" that his plan to end the shutdown is telling Democrats to vote to end it.

He suggested the shutdown will only end if and when Democrats capitulate.

Meanwhile, Trump is also encouraging Senate Republicans to end the filibuster.

"If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want," he said.