Capitol News

Congressman Tom Barrett, who represents Michigan's 7th congressional district, has recently addressed several issues on his social media account. His posts focus on the ongoing government shutdown, its impact on air travel in Detroit, and a meeting with a major labor union in Michigan.

On November 7, 2025, Barrett commented on the government shutdown and attributed responsibility to Senate Democrats. He wrote: "Senator John Fetterman is saying what his colleagues won’t: Democrats own this shutdown. There is bipartisan support for opening the government and putting the American people first in both chambers of Congress, but Senate Democrats don’t want to play ball."

The following day, Barrett shared details about his engagement with local labor representatives. On November 8, 2025, he posted: "This week, I had the opportunity to meet with the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights, which represents 14,000 workers across the state. We had a great conversation about how to prevent under-the-table exploitation and support the hardworking men and women in"

Later that same day, Barrett highlighted disruptions at Detroit airports due to the shutdown. He stated: "If you’re planning to fly in or out of Detroit soon, you should anticipate severe delays and cancellations. This is only going to get worse until Senate Democrats end their political stunt and vote to fund our government."

Barrett’s comments come as Congress faces another impasse over federal funding measures. Government shutdowns have historically led to interruptions in public services such as air travel and have affected negotiations between lawmakers from both parties.

The Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights represents thousands of skilled tradespeople throughout Michigan. Issues like wage theft and worker exploitation remain central concerns for unions across the country.