Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, who represents Pennsylvania’s 5th district in the U.S. Congress, has addressed ongoing concerns regarding the government shutdown and its impact on federal workers and healthcare.
On October 2, 2025, Scanlon posted: “As Democrats work to reopen the government and ensure affordable healthcare for Americans, I’ve asked that my salary be withheld while so many federal workers, including my own staff, work without pay.”
The following day, she thanked constituents for their engagement during a public discussion about current events. On October 3, 2025, she wrote: “Thank you to everyone who called in to my telephone town hall to discuss the government shutdown, ongoing healthcare crisis, and the status of their benefits. I encourage anyone who needs help with government services or benefits to reach out to my office.”
Later on October 3, Scanlon questioned changes in data transparency from federal agencies amid the shutdown: “BLS has always released the jobs report during government shutdowns. Has the White House blocked it now because the numbers are so bad – again?”
Scanlon has represented Pennsylvania’s 5th District since replacing Pat Meehan in 2018. She was born in Watertown, New York in 1959 and currently resides in Swarthmore. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University (1980) and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania (1984).
