Neil Bradley
Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Updated
March 08, 2024
Published
September 18, 2023
The Chamber appreciates the bipartisan effort by members of Congress who are both trying to complete the appropriations process, while also voting to avoid a partial government shutdown.
While the devastating impacts of a partial government shutdown have once again been avoided in the short-term, constant brinksmanship causes harmful uncertainty for millions of businesses and workers who count on government to do its job so they can do theirs.
The Administration, House, and Senate must now work together on a long-term government funding plan while also tackling unfinished business that will improve America’s security by addressing the border crisis and supporting Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
The short-term funding extension sets up two new funding deadlines on March 1 and March 8.
U.S. Chamber Applauds House Passage of Short-Term Budget Solution, Urges Senate to Act to Avert Shutdown
November 14, 2023
The Chamber applauds the bipartisan group of House members who voted to avoid a government shutdown that would cause harm to American families, communities, and businesses, and we urge the Senate to swiftly act to avert a shutdown at the end of this week.
A government shutdown doesn’t just impact Washington. The ripple effects would be felt in communities across the country, especially ahead of the busy holiday season. Businesses rely on the government doing its job, so they can do theirs. We’re urging lawmakers to recognize the significant economic impacts a shutdown would have on individuals, businesses of all sizes, and in communities across the nation and work to keep the government open.
It's time for America's leaders to act on the global and national challenges before us
November 6, 2023
The U.S. Chamber is endorsing the effort to provide emergency supplemental funding to secure America’s southern border and support Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Not only is it in our own economic and national security interests; it is essential to safeguarding the principles of democracy and free markets that the Chamber has stood up for 111 years.
We will continue to work with Congress to find ways to tackle the debt and deficit. But to be clear, the expenses associated with securing our border and defending democracies are not the root cause of our problems – and if we fail to make these investments now, it will cost us far more in the future.
The United States is a strong and capable nation. We can address the domestic challenges that require the attention of our elected leaders and support and defend those who share our commitment to democracy, free markets and the rule of law.
Read U.S. Chamber President and CEO Suzanne Clark’s latest op-ed in USA Today.
U.S. Chamber Commends Congressional Action to Avert Government Shutdown
September 30, 2023
The Chamber commends those in Congress who voted on a bipartisan basis to reach an agreement on a short-term budget solution. While brinksmanship is never the answer, we are pleased that the 'adults' stepped up to prevent a shutdown and the direct harm it would have caused to millions of Americans and American small businesses who would have been impacted beginning at midnight on Saturday.
We urge Congress to use the 45 days to complete the appropriations process, provide the urgently needed funding to support Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression, and take steps to secure the border.
A Small Business Guide to a Government Shutdown
September 18, 2023
How does a government shutdown impact small businesses? The Chamber's Vice President of Small Business Policy Tom Sullivan breaks down the potential impacts to small business contractors, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, business travel, and more.
The only way to prevent a government shutdown is for lawmakers to come to an agreement. Chambers at a local, state, and federal level want to help tell your story and urge lawmakers to work to prevent a shutdown. If you are willing to share how a government shutdown impacts your small business, please email us at smallbusiness@uschamber.com.
A Government Shutdown Isn’t Inevitable — It's a Choice
September 25, 2023
With recent setbacks in negotiations and the deadline quickly approaching, emerging consensus among lawmakers, staff, the Capitol Hill news media and longtime Washington operatives is that the federal government is almost certainly heading for another government shutdown come Oct. 1, the beginning of the government’s fiscal year.
A government shutdown isn’t inevitable — it is a choice. And it is among the dumbest decisions Washington can make.
Read more in my latest op-ed in USA Today.
What a Shutdown Would Mean for Businesses, Economy
September 19, 2023
Fill me in: From December 2018 to January 2019, the United States experienced the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history. For 35 days, the impact was felt by any person or entity that interacts with the federal government.
The 2018-2019 shutdown by the numbers
- 35: the number of days the government was shut down
- 800,000: the number of furloughed federal workers
- $11,000,000,000: the damage to the U.S. economy
The business perspective
Individuals and businesses across the country felt the shutdown.
- The government shutdown brought business to a grinding halt for a century-old hotel in Georgia that serves thousands of people who visit Cumberland Island National Seashore each year. Due to a lack of federal funding, the National Park Service suspended ferry transport to Cumberland Island—a move that essentially evaporated the hotel’s customer pool overnight.
Unfortunately, they would not be alone in experiencing a negative impact if another shutdown occurs. Dining, leisure, hospitality, and service industries would feel the pinch if customers dried up due to a government shutdown.
- Tourists who visit our nation’s national parks, monuments, and museums would find many closed or operating at reduced capacity, and local leisure and hospitality industries would see their customer bases shrink.
- Travelers would find federally run transportation services, including the Transit Security Administration (TSA), operating below normal staffing levels, creating headaches for business and leisure travelers alike.
Bottom line: These indirect effects would put an unwelcome damper on the economy as it continues to deal with inflation. The good news is that a government shutdown is not inevitable. It is a choice.
Extended Government Shutdown? Our Member Memo on the Implications
September 18, 2023
Despite the fact that the Biden Administration and Congressional leaders from both parties in the House and Senate want to avoid a government shutdown, there is a substantial consensus that a shutdown will occur at the beginning of the fiscal year on Oct. 1.
If a government shutdown does occur, it is likely to be significant in duration with no clear path for reopening the government.
In a new memo to our members, the Chamber is providing more detail about the possible length of a shutdown and the implications for the business community and the economy so that our members can prepare accordingly.
About the authors
Neil Bradley
Neil Bradley is executive vice president, chief policy officer, and head of strategic advocacy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He has spent two decades working directly with congressional committee chairpersons and other high-ranking policymakers to achieve solutions.
