The union called on Congress to move forward with a “clean, continuing resolution”.
The American Federation for Government Employees – or AFGE – called on Congress to end the “avoidable” government shutdown that has now dragged on for a month. The union, which is the largest federal workers union in the country and represents 800,000 employees, issued sharp criticism to both parties for failing to end the standoff. AFGE previously sued the Trump administration for its mass federal firings earlier this year, but also blamed the Democratic party for its part in the shutdown.
“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” AFGE President Everett Kelley wrote in a statement released Monday. “Work together on a bipartisan basis to address important policy matters like addressing rising costs and fixing the broken appropriations process.” Kelley reiterated widespread concern regarding the duration of the shutdown, and how it would affect hundreds of thousands of government workers.
“Because when the folks who serve this country are standing in line for food banks after missing a second paycheck because of this shutdown, they aren’t looking for partisan spin,” Kelley continued. “They’re looking for the wages they earned.”
Most recently, Senate Democrats refused to negotiate to reopen the government until President Trump and Republicans commit to extending the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies that were temporarily extended during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Kelley called for a “clean and continuing resolution” to end the strife, AFGE criticized both parties for allowing federal workers to lose their jobs and go without paychecks. Senate Democrats rejected a continuing resolution for a 12th time recently, despite the same bill having passed the House. Only three Democrats – Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, Maine’s Angus King and Nevada’s Catherine Cortez Masto – bucked Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s staunch opposition to the resolution.
Despite the back and forth, most think Congress has failed to make significant progress towards a deal. Last Thursday, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) filed a motion to reconsider the previously rejected Shutdown Fairness Act but still has no firm timetable on when that vote would take place. While Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) – the author of the initial bill – expressed optimism, bipartisan progress stalled and 1.4 million government employees missed their first full rounds of paychecks.
AFGE announced it would support the temporary resolution as a short-term solution, even though if passed it would expire on November 21. The union also pressured Democrats to accept GOP terms that include an offer to negotiate new healthcare spending after the shutdown ends, something Sen. Schumer has vehemently refused. Schumer and his allies accused the White House of refusing to agree to any measures that would extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, even after the government reopened.
Republicans responded to AFGE’s demands, saying Democrats “political clock” was ticking. “When the people Democrats claim to fight for are begging them to stop the shutdown, it tells you everything,” said NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella.
In addition to over 1 million missed pay checks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently warned money for food stamp programs would run out on November 1, leaving Congress less than a week to negotiate a deal.
