“Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and who write oppressive decrees,
to deprive the poor of fair treatment and to rob the needy among my people of their rights…” 
— Isaiah 10:1–2 (NRSV)

As the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of Public Witness, we lift our voices in deep lament and urgent alarm at the continued dysfunction of our federal government, which has once again led to a shutdown. Rooted in our Reformed tradition and in faithful solidarity with interfaith partners, we declare this is not merely a political failure. It is a moral one.

Budgets are not just financial plans; they are moral documents. They are theological statements about whom we value, whom we protect, and whom we leave behind. When government ceases to function, it is not the powerful who suffer first but the poor, the vulnerable, and the invisible. In recent months, we have witnessed not only a failure to govern, but also intentional efforts to dismantle the very institutions that protect human dignity: attempts to slash Medicaid, undermine nutrition assistance, defund public education, and reduce environmental and labor protections. These actions are not products of fiscal responsibility; they are morally bankrupt.

Shutdowns do not happen in concept; they impact real lives. Millions of people, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, low-income families, and communities of color, rely on federal programs for food, healthcare, housing, and economic security. When these services are delayed, cut, or suspended, it is the most vulnerable who bear the heaviest burden. Federal workers, including transportation employees, park rangers, maintenance staff, and food service staff, are furloughed or forced to work without pay, having their dignity disregarded in the name of political impasse.

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me.”
— Matthew 25:40

While responsibility in a democracy is shared, we must speak truthfully. The General Assembly of the PC(USA) has long affirmed that government has a constructive and necessary role in society and must govern for the good of all—especially the most vulnerable.

Therefore, we call for:

• An immediate reopening of the government, and the passage of a just and moral budget that upholds human dignity.
• A rejection of all harmful or illegal cuts to social safety nets, including health care, food assistance, housing support, and education.
• Accountability for all elected officials, regardless of party, to govern with courage, compassion, and conscience.
• Continued prayer, public witness, and advocacy by people of faith and goodwill, for a society where the vulnerable are not forgotten and where justice is more than a word.

“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
— Amos 5:24

May this be a moment not of deepening division, but of renewed commitment to faithful governance, shared responsibility, and the sacred dignity of every child of God. May our public life reflect these words not only in rhetoric, but in policy, in budget, and in action.