Posted on 10/27/2025 12:22:21 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
WASHINGTON — The largest union for federal workers urged Congress on Monday to pass a “clean” funding bill to end the government shutdown, undercutting Democrats who are demanding that any deal include subsidies for people who get their insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
The move by the American Federation of Government Employees, which is typically a Democratic ally, underscores the difficult spot federal unions find themselves in. Nearly four weeks into the shutdown, hundreds of thousands of workers are furloughed and missing paychecks, while some face the possibility of further layoffs by the Trump administration.
Everett Kelly, AFGE’s president, said in a statement that it is time to “put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay.”
“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” Kelley said.
The union’s new position, first reported by NBC, could put added pressure on Democrats to vote to end the shutdown after a monthlong stalemate over government funding in the GOP-controlled Senate. Republicans quickly seized on it to call on Democrats to back down.
“Even a union that backed Kamala Harris admits it: Democrats caused this shutdown. Pass the clean CR. Reopen the government!” Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) wrote in a social media post on Monday.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) read part of the AFGE’s statement from the lectern during Republicans’ daily press conference on Monday morning.
“And they’re right. It’s a national disgrace what Democrats are doing to good, hardworking people, to women, infants and children, who are just looking to this town and saying, ‘What are these Democrats doing?’” Scalise said.
Democratic senators have demanded that Republicans first agree to extend enhanced subsidies for millions of Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act that expire at the end of the year. Without...
(Excerpt) Read more at huffpost.com ...
Their constituents are starting to turn on them. Sweet.
CC
Nah, they’re just throwing the Raw Cheeseburger Lover a lifeline.
Fire them all.
Union Dues cash flow on a downturn, eh?
HuffPost still exists? LOL.
I’m calling on Congress to end Federal Employee Unions.
Fire, and keep firing, everyday fire more. Everyone knows this is caused by the Dems, fire so many they’ll never want to do this again
Except for the military, America and the American People NEED most of the rest of the federal gov’t to be shut down - PERMANENTLY!!!
MAGA with MORE freedom and LESS gov’t!!
LESS gov’t, MORE prosperity!!!
Their union dues are probably withheld from employee payroll. The shutdown affects the union’s cash flow.
I have to laugh out loud at how we allow our servants to unionize.
The unions certainly cut a fat hog with that unionization of federal employees. What if all voters unionized? Who would pay their dues?
Even that Commie FDR opposed public sector unions.
You are correct, and even those electing to not be in the union, are assessed a “fair share” contribution, in lieu of actual monthly dues.
That’s just a fancy way to say “extortion”.
Good observation. I know mine was.
CC
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