Rep. Steven Horsford, who represents Nevada’s 4th district in the U.S. Congress, used his social media platform on October 17, 2025, to comment on the ongoing federal government shutdown and its impact on Nevadans, as well as recent Republican-led health care initiatives.
In a post published at 20:00 UTC, Horsford stated, “Nevada’s federal workforce keeps our state running – but 22,000 federal employees are now furloughed or working without pay. From housing loans to small business grants, the cost of this shutdown grows every day.”
An hour later, at 21:00 UTC, he addressed the issue of medical debt and recent legislative actions: “Medical debt doesn’t just drain wallets it costs lives. When people fear going to the doctor because of hospital bills, they delay care, leading to worse health and even death. And now, with Republicans hell-bent on gutting affordable health care through their Big Ugly Law,”
At 22:01 UTC that same evening, Horsford continued his critique of proposed changes to health care policy: “This Republican Assault on Health Care will cause rural hospitals to shut down across the country, including two right here in my district. My constituents deserve better than to drive hours just to see a doctor. People are going to die.
I’m here to protect health care.”
Steven Horsford has represented Nevada’s 4th District in Congress since 2019 after previously serving in the Nevada Senate from 2009 to 2013. Born in Las Vegas in 1973 and a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno (2014), he has focused much of his legislative activity on issues affecting his home state and district.
The government shutdown referenced by Horsford has led to significant disruptions for thousands of federal workers in Nevada and nationwide. The ongoing debate over changes to national health care law has raised concerns about access to medical services—especially for rural communities—which is echoed in Horsford’s remarks.
