Rep. Adam Smith, who has represented Washington’s 9th district in the U.S. Congress since 1997, addressed several ongoing federal issues in a series of posts on October 8, 2025. Smith’s statements highlighted concerns over the allocation of federal funds, the legal rights of federal employees during government shutdowns, and the impact of legislative gridlock on his constituents.
In a post published at 15:37 UTC, Smith referenced a conversation with a constituent at a recent town hall meeting: “Trevor from Auburn spoke with me at Monday night’s town hall about how the President is withholding federal tax dollars for important programs. President Trump has been blocking funds going to blue states and blue communities for nine months now and if he is going to turn the https://t.co/LC8XFFDTMT”.
Later that day, at 15:56 UTC, Smith addressed Speaker Johnson directly regarding federal employee compensation during shutdowns: “It is federal law that federal employees receive back pay after a shutdown. Full stop, Speaker Johnson. https://t.co/iYgVKFgIie”.
In another post at 17:35 UTC, Smith criticized Republican leadership for the ongoing government shutdown and its effects on healthcare access in his district: “Republicans have now led us through 7 days of a government shutdown. That’s one who week without bipartisan negotiations and a plan to protect health care for over 30,000 people in Washington’s Ninth District.
It’s time for them to cut their vacation short, come back to D.C., https://t.co/KeJHg5Wjqm“.
Smith’s comments reflect ongoing partisan tensions in Congress regarding budget negotiations and executive actions affecting funding distribution. As a long-serving member of Congress—having replaced Randy Tate in 1997 and previously served in the Washington State Senate—Smith has regularly engaged with constituents on matters impacting Washington’s 9th District. Born in Washington, D.C., in 1965 and currently residing in Bellevue, Smith holds degrees from Fordham University and the University of Washington.
