Congressman Ryan Zinke’s recent appearance on Wake Up America was a needed wake-up call for Washington to stop the political theater and get back to the appropriations process. Zinke didn’t mince words — a government shutdown is a self-inflicted wound that punishes ordinary Americans while lawmakers play chicken with taxpayers’ money.
Zinke reminded viewers that a shutdown isn’t abstract budget talk; it costs real money — roughly $400 million a day, according to his estimate — and it hurts the most vulnerable who rely on programs like WIC and SNAP. Conservatives should be clear: defending essential services while reining in runaway spending is both humane and fiscally responsible, and endless brinkmanship helps neither goal.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee and a former Interior secretary, Zinke understands the mechanics — he argues we must appropriate and do our job rather than punt with continuing resolutions. Washington’s failure to follow regular order and pass twelve appropriations bills on time has led to these crises, and Republicans must use their leverage to force accountability instead of caving.
Make no mistake: conservatives should oppose wasteful “megabills” and woke programs that sneak spending past taxpayers, but opposing bad policy doesn’t mean celebrating a shutdown that damages the economy. Zinke rightly called out the madness of letting partisan theater cost Americans while the bureaucracy continues to grow unchecked. Lawmakers who preach fiscal responsibility must also govern responsibly.
The practical path forward is simple and patriotic — return to regular order, finish the twelve appropriations bills, and use conference committees to reconcile differences honestly and transparently. Zinke has been working on these committees and urged leaders on both sides to compromise where necessary to keep government open and protect American families. That is the kind of stewardship voters elected Republicans to deliver.
Hardworking Americans should tell their representatives to stop the games and finish the job: defend essential services, crack down on waste, and pass responsible funding through the proper process. If Republicans want to keep voters’ trust they must be both firm on spending and effective at governing — Zinke’s push to end the shutdown nonsense and restore appropriations is exactly the leadership we need.
