Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who represents South Carolina’s 1st District in the U.S. Congress, criticized Democrats for their handling of the ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its twentieth day. The current shutdown is the third longest in U.S. history.
In a statement released as the shutdown entered its fourth week, Mace said:
“Day 20 of the government shutdown.
“What the Democrats want to do is, they want to put African locusts ahead of paying our troops. They want more than two million dollars to pay for insects in Africa. They want LGBTQ, alphabet soup, millions to go to those people, again, in the continent of Africa. They want QT stuff in Honduras, feminine democracy, it has nothing to do with America.
“In the meantime, what they’ve done is put our troop pay at risk. We have 34,000 troops here in South Carolina whose pay is at risk on November 1st. Thank God Donald Trump found some money to pay our troops on the 15th. I don’t know if he will be able to come up with that on the 1st, but they’re putting all these foreign insects even and LGBTQ stuff ahead of getting our troops paid, which, we’re also risking 25,000 federal employees getting furloughed, as well as our troops not getting paid November 1st.
“It’s so un-American, what’s happening today in this country.
“And just so you’re aware, if our troops aren’t getting paid, I’m not getting paid.” stated Congresswoman Mace.
Mace listed several items she described as demands from Democrats during negotiations over ending the shutdown. These included funding for climate resilience projects and civic engagement initiatives abroad; grants focused on LGBTQI+ rights and gender equality; contributions to international organizations such as UNESCO and the International Labor Organization; funds for peacekeeping operations; and resources for healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
She emphasized her decision not to accept her congressional salary while military personnel remain unpaid during the shutdown period and urged other members of Congress to do likewise.
Mace also sent a letter urging financial institutions in South Carolina to protect military families from penalties or foreclosures during this time.
Nancy Mace has served as representative for South Carolina’s 1st District since 2021 after replacing Joe Cunningham. She previously served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2018 through 2020 and was born at Fort Bragg before moving to Charleston where she currently resides. She graduated from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999.
Her office remains open during the shutdown and constituents are encouraged to reach out via her official website.
