Sioux City Times

Senator Joni Ernst, representing Iowa in the U.S. Senate, posted a series of statements on October 22, 2025, criticizing Democratic leadership and highlighting efforts to address government inefficiency.

In her first post of the day, Ernst stated: "Chuck Schumer is blocking us from doing the people’s business." (October 22, 2025). Later that afternoon, she praised recent anti-fraud efforts while noting ongoing challenges: "A strong start and testament to the great work of @DOGE to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. But there is still a lot more work to do." (October 22, 2025).

Ernst continued her criticism of Democratic leaders in a subsequent message: "Democrats know their Schumer Shutdown is making Americans suffer, and they don’t even care. Their political stunt needs to end today." (October 22, 2025).

The posts refer to an ongoing legislative impasse in Congress. Senator Chuck Schumer serves as Senate Majority Leader for the Democratic Party. Government shutdowns have occurred periodically when Congress fails to pass funding bills or continuing resolutions; these events can disrupt federal services and impact millions of Americans. The Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) referenced by Ernst has been involved in initiatives aimed at reducing government waste and preventing misuse of taxpayer funds.