U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) participated in Politico’s Policy Outlook on Cybersecurity, where she addressed the potential national security risks posed by the ongoing government shutdown. Blackburn expressed concern that adversaries could exploit lapses in federal funding to target critical services.
“The shorter the better,” Blackburn told POLITICO’s Policy Outlook on Cybersecurity, referring to the shutdown that began at midnight. “We always have national security concerns about what happens during a shutdown.”
She emphasized that interruptions in government operations could create vulnerabilities, stating, “The shutdown is something that ends up costing money. Bad actors and adversaries do not take a day off, they don’t take an hour off, they don’t take a minute off.”
The shutdown follows disagreements between Democrats and President Donald Trump over health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. As negotiations stall, most federal services remain closed.
Blackburn highlighted bipartisan efforts to end the impasse, noting that three Senate Democrats—John Fetterman (Pa.), Angus King (Maine), and Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.)—joined Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to advance a short-term spending bill. She indicated continued attempts by GOP lawmakers to secure more Democratic support for reopening the government.
“I’m always ready to have a conversation with anyone who wants to make the lives of Tennesseans and all Americans better,” Blackburn said.
Blackburn also discussed her legislative work focused on quantum technology development and cybersecurity strategies. Recent bills introduced by Blackburn address issues such as creating a national quantum computing cybersecurity strategy, ensuring U.S. leadership in quantum technology, expediting patents for emerging technologies, strengthening quantum development for defense applications, and reestablishing U.S. leadership in international standards setting for emerging tech.
