‘Get back to work’: Government shutdown leads to spat between Arizona politicians

PHOENIX — The ongoing government shutdown is causing fierce tension among politicians, and two Arizona representatives have exchanged blows on social media.

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, a Republican, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show his sharp critiques of Democrat U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego on Tuesday.

“(He’s) pretending like he’s working,” Ciscomani said. “All he’s doing is keeps on voting for the shutdown and that’s terrible. … He’s voting against opening the government every single time, five times now.”

Why is Juan Ciscomani critiquing Ruben Gallego?

The congressman’s remarks came after Gallego responded to a letter from Arizona’s House Republicans in a video posted to social media from the steps of the nation’s Capitol.

“Hey Juan, I got your letter and I’d talk to you about it but you’re not here because you’re backing up Speaker Mike Johnson to make sure that Adelita Grijalva, your seatmate, doesn’t get sworn in because that would mean that all the pedophiles are exposed on the Epstein list,” Gallego said in the video. “Hope you’ll actually get back to D.C., stop covering up for these pedophiles and actually start fighting for Arizona. Because right now you’ve done nothing, you’ve only cost Arizona more and more jobs. And again, stop covering for the pedophiles Juan. It’s disgraceful.”

Hey @RepCiscomani, got your letter. Let us know when you’re ready to come back to D.C. and actually work. I’ll be here fighting to protect Arizonans’ health care. pic.twitter.com/chMeIpOAB9

— Senator Ruben Gallego (@SenRubenGallego) October 7, 2025

In the video, Gallego also claimed that by Ciscomani not voting in favor of extending Affordable Care Act tax credits, more than 300,000 Arizonans would see their health insurance premium double and another 100,000 would lose health insurance.

Ciscomani said that he has been vocal about ACA subsidies in the past and is willing to have conversations about them when the government reopens.

The letter, which was addressed to Gallego and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, urged the Democrats to “put Arizona first” by voting in favor of  H.R. 5371, a continuing appropriations bill. The document also highlighted that the Grand Canyon State is home to 10 military installations, more than 34,000 federal civilian employees, approximately 20,000 active-duty service members, more than 450,000 veterans and a number of other federal entities.

“When the government shuts down, it means many services shutter, thousands are forced to work without knowing when their next paycheck will come and our constituents suffer,” the letter stated. “We have a duty as elected officials to ensure the people come before politics and thus, we urge you to join us for the good of all our constituents and put Arizonans first.”

The letter was signed by Ciscomani and Reps. Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, David Schweikert, Paul Gosar and Abe Hamadeh.

In addition to his critiques about Gallego “pretending” to work, Ciscomani called Gallego hypocritical for continuing to collect a paycheck while federal workers go unpaid.

“He says he has a mortgage and child support,” Ciscomani said. “You think other people don’t? It’s hypocrtical and it’s wrong.”

What does Ciscomani want Gallego to do?

The congressman wants Gallego and other Democratic senators to bring a “real proposal” to the table but only when the government is reopen.

Ciscomani claimed that Democrats’ wish list would add $1.5 trillion back to spending and emphasized that is “not an option.”

“We need to have a real conversation, but we need to open up the government for people that are working and the services that are being provided and then we need to have that conversation, all before Thanksgiving,” Ciscomani said.

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