Congressman Bryan Steil Talks Government Shutdown

Summary

Podcast Summary: Bloomberg Talks – Congressman Bryan Steil Talks Government Shutdown

Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Karen Moscow, Nathan Hager (Bloomberg)
Guest: Congressman Bryan Steil (Republican, Wisconsin’s 1st District)

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Overview

In this episode, Representatives Karen Moscow and Nathan Hager speak with Congressman Bryan Steil amid an ongoing federal government shutdown. Steil shares his perspectives on the causes of the stalemate, the impact of the shutdown on essential services like military pay and agricultural assistance, and broader legislative and policy implications, from health care premiums to trade policy. The conversation highlights partisan dynamics, particularly between House Republicans and Senate Democrats, and explores possible resolutions to reopen the government.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The House, Senate, and the "Clean CR" (Continuing Resolution)

• Steil’s Opening Position (00:47): Congressman Steil insists the government shutdown persists because Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, refuse to vote for a "clean CR"—legislation to continue government funding without policy riders.
  • Quote: “This used to be a non-controversial vote here on Capitol Hill. In fact, Democrats have voted time and again in favor of clean CRs, most recently in the spring. What changed is the politics for Democrats in the United States Senate.” — Congressman Steil [00:47]
• Steil argues the House has already “done our job” by passing a clean CR and blames the Senate for inaction and political posturing.

2. Shutdown Impacts and Presidential Involvement

• Government Services at Risk (01:56): Steil emphasizes consequences for troops and essential personnel, crediting former President Trump for “extraordinary actions” to mitigate harm, but warns these are only temporary fixes.
  • Quote: “...the consequences will continue to build. The pressure will build. And I do believe at some point the Senate will come to the table and recognize that their action to close the federal government...was the wrong bet.” — Congressman Steil [01:56]
• Calls for Negotiation (03:11): Steil insists discussions on FY26 appropriations and other policy priorities must take place in an open government context; he criticizes Senate procedural hurdles as unnecessary obstacles.

3. Health Care and Insurance Premiums

• Rising Premiums and ACA Critique (04:31): Responding to news about escalating ACA premiums, especially in states like Maine and Michigan, Steil blames Democrats for structural flaws and an impending sunset in subsidies.
  • Quote: “The data continues to come in that the Affordable Care Act was anything but affordable for the American people....There's plenty of evidence of the waste, fraud and abuse...” — Congressman Steil [04:31]
• He cites a Treasury report highlighting deep problems and calls for “meaningful and substantive reform” of the ACA.

4. Impact on Farmers and Trade with China

• Delayed Economic Assistance (06:08): Steil relays a recent discussion with Wisconsin soybean farmers, acknowledging the government’s role in short-term subsidies but stresses the need for long-term trade solutions, specifically restoring exports to China.
  • Quote: “The short-term fix may be that type of a subsidy, but the long-term fix is getting trade agreements in place and having China once again purchasing US soy.” — Congressman Steil [06:08]
• He sees an opportunity to work with allies and hold China accountable while supporting American farmers.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Senate Inaction:
  “Chuck Schumer is beholden to his radical base. A lot of us are frustrated. It’s time for us to move on because there’s really important negotiations in front of us, including fiscal year 26 appropriations…” — Congressman Steil [00:47]
• On Shutdown Consequences:
  “Many of these [actions] are one time actions. And so the consequences will continue to build. The pressure will build. And I do believe at some point the Senate will come to the table...” — Congressman Steil [01:56]
• On Filibuster and Senate Process:
  “Senator Fetterman is even calling now and saying maybe we have to overcome [the filibuster] because a minority of United States senators are standing in the way under the leadership of Chuck Schumer from reopening the federal government.” — Congressman Steil [03:11]
• Healthcare Costs:
  “The program the Democrats put in place...there is plenty of evidence of the waste, fraud and abuse inside this Democrat-created program.” — Congressman Steil [04:31]
• Farming and Trade:
  “The short-term fix may be providing some level of assistance. The long-term fix is striking these trade agreements to the benefit of American workers and farmers.” — Congressman Steil [06:08]

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Key Timestamps

• 00:47 — Steil blames Senate Democrats for the shutdown, calls for passing the clean CR
• 01:56 — Steil warns about mounting consequences and pressure on the Senate; comments on Trump’s actions
• 03:11 — Steil on shutdown negotiations, appropriations, and Senate filibuster challenges
• 04:31 — Discussion on ACA premium hikes, Steil calls for health care reform
• 06:08 — Farming aid and US-China trade: Steil describes conversations with Wisconsin farmers

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Episode Tone and Context

• The conversation is direct, partisan, and urgent, reflecting the high political tension around the shutdown. Steil defends his caucus’s actions, criticizes Senate leadership, and uses examples directly relevant to his Wisconsin constituents—troop pay, health care costs, and farm exports.
• Hosts Karen Moscow and Nathan Hager remain factual but pointed with their questions, driving at practical impacts and exploring potential resolutions.

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This summary encapsulates the central themes and dynamics of the episode, providing both a clear narrative and rapid access to the episode’s major arguments and moments.

Transcript

[Indiana University Announcer]

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[Nathan Hager]

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[Karen Moscow]

We're lucky to be joined now by one of those members of Congress who is currently out of session, but joins us now from Capitol Hill. That's Congressman Brian Stein, aisle Republican representing Wisconsin's 1st district. Congressman, it's good to see you and thanks so much for joining. I loved your your opinion on this. The Senate Majority leader suggesting it's time for the House to come back into session. Do you think that's a good idea?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, it's time for the Senate to pass the clean cr. We're in this situation because the Senate Democratic leadership under Chuck Schumer refuses to vote for a clean cr. This used to be a non controversial vote here on Capitol Hill. In fact, Democrats have voted time and again in favor of clean crs, most recently in the spring. What changed is the politics for Democrats in the United States Senate. So the House has done our job. We're all waiting for the Senate to do their job. Chuck Schumer is beholden to his radical base. A lot of us are frustrated. It's time for us to move on because there's really important negotiations in front of us, including fiscal year 26 appropriations as well as other prior policy priorities that you mentioned.

[Nathan Hager]

Congressman, it's good to see you. Kevin Hassett had suggested yesterday maybe there's capitulation this week and this whole thing comes to an end. But every time the Senate votes on this, it's the same two Democrats and independent who break ranks here. So, I mean, at some point we could be bumping up against November 21st. What do we do then? Do you wait forever for Senate Democrats? We just stay shut down and until Chuck Schumer changes his tune.

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, the consequences of the Schumer shutdown continue to build. President Trump has done a great job taking some extraordinary actions to make sure that the consequences aren't felt by our troops, for example. But many of these are one time actions. And so the consequences will continue to build. The pressure will build. And I do believe at some point the Senate will come to the table and recognize that their action to close the federal government and put at risk, for example, payment to our troops, the men and women wearing the United States military uniform was the wrong bet. The sooner we come out of the shutdown and begin the substantive negotiations and fiscal year 26 approach as well as other policy priorities, the better off we are.

[Karen Moscow]

Well, the White House has come to the table on some of these really critical issues like military pay, pay for the Coast Guard, also finding that supplementary funding for that key federal nutrition assistance program that helps women and children. But, Congressman, we hear from Democrats that they want President Trump to come to the negotiating table when it comes to the policy st at stake here, particularly related to health care. We know he had this luncheon today with Senate Republicans. But do you think President Trump should be getting more involved as this shutdown drags on?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, I think again, the challenge here is we put forward a clean CR now, as you noted weeks ago passed in the House. We're three weeks into a shutdown. We should be three weeks into the cr, utilizing the time that we're burning right now to negotiate those policy priorities. Many of these have year end deadlines, appropriate conversations for us to be having. But we should be doing that in the context of an open and operational government. Again, the House did our job. The Senate is running into filibuster challenges. Senator Fetterman is even calling now and saying maybe we have to overcome that because a minority of United States senators are standing in the way under the leadership of Chuck Schumer from reopening the federal government.

[Nathan Hager]

Hmm. You've seen what's going on with the premiums here, Congressman. And I know that you're careful not to conflate this debate with that of government funding. But we saw a couple of states this morning in Georgia where I know Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has been making some noise here. Obamacare premiums could rise as much as four times. They could quadruple in Maine, plans will see premiums up an average of 24%. In Michigan could surpass a 18%. And that's before factoring in the expiration. What would it mean for people looking at their subsidies rise in Wisconsin?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

Well, I think what we see is the data continues to come in that the Affordable Care act was anything but affordable for the American people. The program the Democrats put in place. And again, the Democrats set the sunset date themselves. This was a Democrat decision to sunset it at the end of the year. But what we continue to see is challenges inside the structure of the program. There is plenty of evidence of the waste, fraud and abuse inside this Democrat created program. There's a Treasury report that came out under President Biden that identifies as significant flaws inside these premium credits that go back to insurance companies as to why it's structurally unsound. So at an absolute minimum we would need to make meaningful and substantive reform in the program. But again, these are the conversations and the debates that we should be having right now on Capitol Hill. Instead, we're shut down all because Chuck Schumer and Democrats in the Senate refused to open the government with a clean CR to allow these negotiations and debates to take place.

[Karen Moscow]

Well, Congressman Joe just outlined one of the potential impacts for constituents. Another has to do with economic assistance for farmers. A senior administration official tells me that's currently been delayed because of this ongoing shutdown. I looked up the stats. The USDA estimates Wisconsin farmers produce $1.3 billion worth of soybeans each year. This is, of course, at the center of this issue as China hasn't imported any US Soybeans so far this harvest season. I'm wondering if you're in any discussions with the administration on what this aid package might look like. Are they talking with Congress on this and any update on when it could be rolled out?

[Congressman Brian Steil]

I had a long conversation with two soybean farmers from Wisconsin yesterday talking about this exact challenge. The short term fix may be that type of a subsidy, but the long term fix is getting trade agreements in place and having China once again purchasing US Soy. The US Soy exports are heavily dependent on the Chinese markets. The broader trade negotiations that we're having is causing concern. I'm of the view that we have a huge opportunity here to work with our allies, hold China accountable and then strike the trade deal. I think President Trump's in a position to do that. The short term fix may be providing some level of assistance. The long term fix is striking these trade agreements to the benefit of American workers and farmers.

[Nathan Hager]

Congressman, we appreciate the insights, as always. That's Brian Stile, Republican Congressman from Wisconsin, who chairs the House Admin Committee. And always a pleasure to have the chairman with us as part of our conversation.

[Indiana University Announcer]

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[Karen Moscow]

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[Nathan Hager]

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