By Chris Ponce

With the federal government entering a shutdown after failure to reach a spending bill agreement, local officials are speaking out about the upcoming impacts. 

Representatives Sara Jacobs (D-51), Scott Peters (D-50) and Mike Levin (D-49) held a press conference on Tuesday to explain how the shutdown will affect constituents in San Diego. 

“The partisan Republican budget bill would allow the cost of healthcare to skyrocket for millions of Americans starting tomorrow,” Peters said.

Peters stated that in California’s 50th District, 28,000 people will see their cost of healthcare increase if the budget does not extend tax credits. 

He also added that 117,000 reserve and active duty servicemembers in San Diego County and another 34,000 military affiliated and VA civilian workers will be forced to work without pay.

Members of Congress will continue to be paid during the shutdown.

Jacobs said this shutdown is “different” from other government shutdowns because healthcare costs will also increase following cuts to the ACA and Medicaid. 

“Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House, so this shutdown is on them,” Jacobs said. “And it’s not a secret what it will take to earn our votes; we literally told them.” 

Meanwhile, Republican leaders maintain Democrats are responsible by not supporting their spending package.

“Everyone knows the Democrats shut down the government,” Republican Representative Darrell Issa (CA-48) said in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In response to the shutdown, San Diego County Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer said San Diegans must rely on local funding solutions, rather than the federal government. 

“The federal shutdown is just the latest reminder that San Diego cannot depend on Washington to protect our community,” Lawson-Remer said. “The Trump Administration has already gutted critical programs through HR 1, slashing food assistance, health care, and housing supports that thousands of local families rely on.”  

“I will continue fighting to protect San Diego from federal cuts and to build a budget that safeguards essential services — no matter what chaos comes out of Washington,” Lawson-Remer said.