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Republicans got an unexpected ally on Monday as they hope to pressure Democrats to vote on a stopgap spending bill end the government shutdown: labor union representing federal workers.
The president of the Association of Federal Government Employees issued a statement Monday calling on Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government as the shutdown enters its fourth week.
“The path forward for Congress is clear: Immediately reopen the government under a clean continuing resolution that allows for continued debate on the big issues,” Everett Kelly said in a statement. “Ensure back pay for every employee who has served or been forced to stay at home through no fault of their own.”
The move boosted Republicans as they have argued the government needs to reopen immediately while Democrats want to do so This includes expanding COVID-era advanced tax credits For the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, “I think they’re absolutely right, and I think Democrats need to stop hurting government workers.” Independent“They need to listen to the unions, and that’s not a sentence I say often.”
As in the past few weeks, the move has put Democrats on the defensive. He said federal employees have already been beaten by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency and Then by Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Watttrump Even posted an AI video for WhatsApp calling “Grim Reaper” is set to Blue Öyster Cult’s song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”.
But Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, praised the federal labor union’s statement.
“The unions are absolutely right that the longer this goes on, the more unfair it will be to federal employees, some of whom are working without pay, some of whom are making ends meet and still others at risk of losing their jobs because of OMB,” she told Independent,
This week has become an important week amid the shutdown. The Trump administration said it would not pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. Additionally, open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace begins this week.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said federal workers have a message for Washington: “End the shutdown. End the shutdown. We want to get paid.”
Murkowski said two concurrent food cuts for poor people and rising people’s premiums could force Washington to start negotiations.
“And so if there is something that is a motivating factor, I think it’s not that unions have changed, maybe, but you have this date that is very important,” she told. Independent,
AFGE’s announcement also confused Democrats.
“I think we can still deal with health care and SNAP, but the federal shutdown is a real challenge,” said Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). IndependentBut he also said that “I feel like federal employees feel like they’ve been mistreated.”
Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) said she did not think AFGE’s statement would weaken their influence.
Slotkin, a former CIA officer, explained, “I was a federal government employee, so I certainly understand that they’re suffering the brunt of this, and they’re doing what they feel is best to advocate for federal government employees.” Independent,
Democrats have long touted their support for labor unions. But many federal workers have been left without pay since the shutdown began. Last week, Democrats blocked legislation introduced by Republicans to pay excepted workers — workers who have to work despite the shutdown — arguing that it would allow Trump to choose which federal employees can be paid.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who has long sold himself as a champion of workers’ rights, said he understands why the union made its statement.
“Obviously, everyone wants to see the government reopen,” he said. IndependentBut he also blamed House Speaker Mike Johnson for keeping the House out of session since September.
“And maybe it might be a good idea for the Speaker of the House to end it with, what is it? A five-week vacation for his members, and bring them back here and start serious negotiations if he wants 60 votes here in the Senate,” he said.