The Senator pledged to support the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay with her salary.
TAMPA, Fla. – Senator Ashley Moody (R) announced today that she will be donating her taxpayer-funded salary for every day the federal government remains shut down, following what she characterized as the Democrats’ and Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) “refusal to fund the government.”
In a forceful statement released from Washington, D.C., Senator Moody made her stance clear: “I will not take a paycheck while Senator Schumer denies one to our military servicemembers, law enforcement and government employees.”
The senator criticized her Democratic colleagues, stating that for weeks, Republicans had invited them “to pass a clean, bipartisan bill that keeps the government open at spending levels previously set under President Biden and Senator Schumer.”
She argued that this invitation was countered with “unserious demands that add over $1 trillion in unrelated and highly partisan priorities just to keep our government functioning.”
Donation to Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
Senator Moody committed to directing her daily salary to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, an organization providing essential services to vulnerable populations who may be impacted by the shutdown. “Each day the government remains closed, I will be donating my salary to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay,” she stated.
The Crisis Center offers a wide range of services, including forensic exams and victim advocacy for sexual assault survivors, trauma counseling for all ages, the Florida Veterans Support Line, and the First Responder Hope Line. They also provide staff for emotional support calls at 911 law enforcement dispatch and operate a 911 ambulance medical transportation service.
Focus on First Responders
The Crisis Center‘s work with first responders holds particular significance for Sen. Moody. As Attorney General, she worked with Florida legislative leaders to secure a $1 million allocation for the statewide expansion of the First Responder Hope Line during the 2024 legislative session.
The Hope Line provides 24/7, lifesaving assistance to first responders and officers struggling with PTSD and other mental-health challenges. The organization reports that first responders face a stark reality, with more than 6.6% having attempted suicide—a figure 10 times the national average.
The move by Senator Moody highlights the escalating political tension over the federal budget and applies public pressure to resolve the impasse, underscoring the financial and personal impact the shutdown has on military personnel, law enforcement, and government employees across the country.
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