Governor Kevin Stitt Assigns State Agencies to Lead During Prolonged Schumer Shutdown

As the federal government shutdown perpetuated by congressional Democrat leadership continues to threaten essential services and sow uncertainty for Oklahoma families, Governor Kevin Stitt today announced decisive action to protect the state’s most vulnerable and strengthen Oklahoma’s future.

Governor Stitt has formally directed all state agency leaders to submit plans by next week, reviewing every federal program under their purview, with an immediate focus on programs supported by the largest amount of federal dollars. These plans will identify exactly how agencies can get back to basics, refocus federal programs on their core missions, and ensure the greatest support reaches those who need it most.

“The Schumer Shutdown highlights the danger of Oklahoma’s reliance on Washington bureaucrats and their political games,” said Governor Stitt. “We won’t stand by while politicians in D.C. jeopardize the well-being of our citizens. It’s time for Oklahoma to step up and lead where Washington fails.”

As an example, Stitt pointed to the SNAP program, which served more than 922,000 Oklahomans over the past year and costs state taxpayers up to $142 million a month, funding that the state cannot simply replace if Congress refuses to act. With two out of five adult recipients not in the most vulnerable categories, the Governor is demanding reforms to ensure resources are targeted efficiently and the needs of children, seniors, veterans, the disabled, and pregnant women remain front and center.

Governor Stitt’s directive calls on agencies to:

• Assess and align federal programs with their original purpose,
• Recommend steps to streamline and strengthen state resilience,
• Identify critical vulnerabilities from federal disruptions,
• And deliver a clear, actionable path forward.

“Now is the time for Oklahoma leaders to put our citizens first,” Stitt said. “We will not let federal dysfunction dictate the future of our state. Oklahoma will continue leading with vision and accountability, even as D.C. falters.”

A copy of the letter to state agencies is available here.