Federal workers’ union calls on Democrats to pass GOP funding bill

The largest union representing federal workers is calling on Congress to end the shutdown “today,” siding with Republicans in their demand that lawmakers pass a “clean,” short-term funding bill.

Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, released a statement on Monday arguing that both parties have “made their point” and it’s time to end the “avoidable crisis” affecting the federal workforce.

But the solution he endorsed, a funding measure without any controversial policy amendments, represents a setback for Democrats, who have demanded healthcare concessions as part of any vote. The shutdown is now on day 27 as Senate Democrats block House-passed legislation that would reopen the government through Nov. 21.

“This week, Congress pushed our nation into the fourth week of a full government shutdown – an avoidable crisis that is harming families, communities, and the very institutions that hold our country together,” Kelley said. “Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight.”

Kelley said there is no “winning” a government shutdown, even as he acknowledged they have become a “recurring tactic” on Capitol Hill.

“It’s time for our leaders to start focusing on how to solve problems for the American people, rather than on who is going to get the blame for a shutdown that Americans dislike,” Kelley added. “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. They’re looking for the wages they earned. The fact that they’re being cheated out of it is a national disgrace.”

The statement comes after the White House announced mass furloughs and the firing of federal workers due to the government shutdown. Both parties have used the shutdown to hold numerous press conferences, all pushing the same message: that the opposing party is at fault for the consequences and funding expiring for key programs. 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) addressed the union president’s pleas during the House GOP’s daily press conference on Monday.

Scalise pointed to Kelley’s “national disgrace” comment, arguing that it is a “national disgrace what Democrats are doing to good, hardworking people.” 

Johnson said he “certainly” hopes that the union’s demand for Congress to pass the continuing resolution will be a “turning point” for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democrats to vote for the bill and reopen the government.

“It’s a union, you know, and they represent such a large amount,” Johnson said, referring to the AFGE’s representation of 800,000 of the 1.4 million federal workers. “They said … ’Pass the CR and open the government.’ Couldn’t be more clear, because they understand the reality of this.” 

“These are federal employees, many of them watch carefully what happens here in the halls of Congress,” the speaker added. “They know that this whole thing by the Democrats, the entire shutdown, is a charade.” 

Since the start of the shutdown, there have been several deadlines that, in previous fights, have put pressure on both parties to reopen the government, but the White House has repeatedly been able to divert funds and blunt that pressure. Oct. 15 was set to be the first paycheck military service members missed, but President Donald Trump directed the use of previously appropriated and unallocated research and development funds to pay the troops.

Johnson said he’s not “100% sure” that the military will be paid on Oct. 31, the end of the month pay day.

“I do know the administration and everybody is bending over backwards and trying to figure that out, but I don’t know the final analysis yet,” the speaker said.

TOP HOUSE APPROPRIATOR BULLISH ON POST-SHUTDOWN BREAKTHROUGH

A fast-approaching pressure point is funding running out for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, with many states signaling they will stop sending out benefits beginning Nov. 1. The Department of Agriculture put out a memo last week stating it won’t use the SNAP contingency fund to cover the cost of the benefits. The fund currently holds roughly $5 billion, which would not cover the full $9 billion needed to fund November benefits for the roughly 42 million people who rely on the food program.