Federal Workers Union’s Shutdown Plea Met With Resistance From D.C. Democrats
Washington, D.C. – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal workers’ union, yesterday called for an end to the ongoing government shutdown by supporting a “clean” continuing resolution, a move that has been largely dismissed by Democratic lawmakers in the Washington, D.C. area.
The AFGE’s appeal centers on the increasing financial hardship faced by federal employees as the shutdown extends, urging Congress to pass a short-term funding extension without policy riders. This stance aligns the union with some Republican positions, a departure from typical Democratic alliances. The shutdown, now in its [second week](https://www.usa.gov/shutdown), is impacting services across numerous federal agencies.
Despite the union’s plea, several Democratic representatives expressed skepticism, maintaining their position that any funding extension must address key policy disagreements. Sources indicate that many Democrats believe conceding to a “clean” CR would undermine leverage in negotiations over broader funding priorities. “We understand the difficulties federal employees are facing, but we cannot sacrifice our principles for a quick fix,” one anonymous Democratic aide stated.
The Biden administration has also signaled it will not tap into contingency funds for food assistance programs, following the lead of House Speaker Johnson, further complicating the situation for those affected by the shutdown. This decision, based on arguments about responsible spending, has drawn criticism from some advocacy groups like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Officials stated they will continue to monitor the situation and assess the need for further action as negotiations progress.
Lawmakers are expected to continue discussions throughout the week, with no immediate resolution in sight.
