Congressman Ben Cline, who represents Virginia’s 6th district in the U.S. Congress, has posted a series of tweets criticizing Senate Democrats over what he calls the “#SchumerShutdown.” In his posts, Cline claims that the ongoing government shutdown is causing significant disruptions for American families, national security, and small businesses.
On October 4, 2025, Cline wrote: “It’s been 84 hours since the #SchumerShutdown began. Hardworking Americans are facing delays in their WIC, Social Security, and SNAP applications. Democrats’ plan to hold the government hostage is harming families across the country.”
The following day, on October 5, he continued: “It’s been 108 hours since the #SchumerShutdown began. Our military and national security are weakened without critical funding. Projects meant to protect the American people can’t enter new contracts or renew ones already existing. When will Democrats put our security ahead of”
Ben Cline has served as a member of Congress for Virginia’s 6th District since 2019 after succeeding Bob Goodlatte. Before his tenure in Congress, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2018. Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1972 and currently residing in Fincastle at age 51, Cline holds a BA from Bates College (1994) and a JD from the University of Richmond (2007).
The “#SchumerShutdown” refers to a political standoff resulting in a lapse of federal appropriations and partial closure of government services—a situation that has occurred several times over recent decades during budget disputes between Congressional Republicans and Democrats.
