Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, who represents Pennsylvania’s 5th district in the U.S. Congress, posted a series of statements on social media criticizing recent actions by the Trump Administration and highlighting local community events.
On October 10, 2025, Scanlon stated: “No Administration has ever fired furloughed federal workers during a government shutdown. The Trump Administration is using the government shutdown as an opportunity to GUT essential programs for the American people.”
The following day, she continued her criticism with another post: “Trump fires CDFI staff – who provide training and resources to promote economic growth and opportunity in low-income and distressed communities – the same week that he sent BILLIONS to bail out hedge funds invested in Argentina.” This statement references Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which are organizations focused on supporting economic development in underserved areas.
On October 11, 2025, Scanlon also shared details from a local event: “A busy weekend morning at the library, with story hour, a children’s playgroup, crafts workshops, and study groups! There was also a banned book reading of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s cautionary tale about censorship and book burning as a response to the Red Scare.”
Mary Gay Scanlon has served in Congress since 2018 after replacing Pat Meehan. She was born in Watertown, New York in 1959 and currently resides in Swarthmore. Scanlon holds degrees from Colgate University (BA) and the University of Pennsylvania (JD).
