Virginia Republicans Urge Warner and Kaine to Support Clean CR as Shutdown Hits

The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus has issued a sharp call for U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine to support a clean Continuing Resolution (CR), warning that Virginia is among the states most at risk from the fallout of a federal government shutdown.

The appeal came just as the shutdown officially began at midnight last night, after the U.S. Senate rejected a Republican-backed measure to keep the government funded. Both Warner and Kaine voted against the plan, which failed 55–45. Three Democrats — Sen. Angus King of Maine, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada — broke ranks and joined Republicans in support, but the vote fell short.

In their letter, Virginia Republicans emphasized the Commonwealth’s constitutional requirement for a balanced budget, contrasting it with Washington’s gridlock. “Year after year, this requirement compels us to work diligently across party lines to ensure that we pass a budget without interrupting the critical functions of government. Virginians rightly expect the same level of responsibility from their leaders in Washington,” the letter stated.

The caucus warned that even a temporary shutdown could wreak havoc on Virginia households, particularly federal employees and contractors who make up a large share of the state’s workforce. While federal workers usually receive back pay after shutdowns, Republicans underscored that the interruption of paychecks inflicts real hardship and sends shockwaves through local economies, small businesses, and communities.

They also took aim at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, accusing him of pushing “nearly $1.5 trillion in partisan demands” instead of focusing on a straightforward funding extension. The GOP senators urged Warner and Kaine, both former Virginia governors, to “put politics aside” and ensure that Virginians do not bear the brunt of Washington dysfunction.

The letter was signed by Senate Republican Leader Ryan McDougle, Caucus Chairman Mark Obenshain, Caucus Whip Bill Stanley, and more than a dozen other members of the caucus, including Senators Glen Sturtevant, Bryce Reeves, Tara Durant, and Richard Stuart.

With the shutdown now in effect, uncertainty looms for Virginia’s federal workforce, its contractors, and the communities that depend on them. Republicans insist the solution is clear: pass a clean Continuing Resolution and restore stability before the damage deepens.