Democrats are facing pressure from the nation’s biggest federal worker union to back a Republican plan to end the government shutdown immediately.
The American Federation of Government Employees called on Democrats to advance a Continuing Resolution that the GOP has been trying to pass since the government shutdown began 28 days ago.
Just three Democrats have voted in favor of the resolution across 12 attempts to push it through Congress – despite the party voting for a similar bill on 13 occasions under President Biden.
The Continuing Resolution would have been a stopgap approach to avoiding the widespread crisis that a shutdown has caused, allowing funding to continue until November 21 while negotiations continued.
But so far, Democrats have refused to compromise without a guarantee that parts of the Affordable Care Act would be extended.
The left-leaning union’s President Everett Kelley implored the Democrats to accept a solution to prevent millions of Americans from going hungry and working for free.
‘Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,’ Kelley said.
‘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.’
As many as 42 million Americans face losing access to food on November 1, when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) runs out of money as a result of the shutdown.
‘Bottom line, the well has run dry,’ the US Department of Agriculture revealed. ‘At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats.’
The Trump administration reportedly declined to tap into approximately $5 billion in contingency funds to cover SNAP costs amidst the second longest shutdown in US history.
Staffing issues have also gripped federal industries across the United States, impacting travel from major US airports, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, New York, Houston, Atlanta and other hubs.
As the government hiatus stretches into a 28th day, American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley (pictured) implored both sides of politics to find a solution to prevent millions of Americans from going hungry and working for free
Democrats are facing pressure from the nation’s biggest federal worker union to work with Republicans to end the government shutdown
Kelley called on Congress ‘to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship. Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.’
Kelley represents more than 800,000 federal and D.C. government workers ‘who serve with pride and professionalism.
‘They ensure our skies are safe, our veterans receive care, our borders are protected, and our food is inspected.
‘They come from every political background and every corner of this nation. What unites them is a simple belief: that service to country is honorable work.’
‘Today,’ Kelley said, ‘that belief is being tested.
‘The Army nurse in San Antonio, the TSA officer in Atlanta, the USDA food safety inspector in Iowa, and hundreds of thousands more like them are being asked to keep our country running without the paychecks that keep their own households afloat.
‘These are patriotic Americans – parents, caregivers, and veterans – forced to work without pay while struggling to cover rent, groceries, gas and medicine because of political disagreements in Washington. That is unacceptable.’
In an effort to stem the damage, T rump ordered members of the military to receive pay during the government shutdown
While Kelley did not single out Democrats or Republicans to solve the issue, the message will sting for liberal politicians who have already voted against reopening on 12 occasions
While Kelley did not single out Democrats or Republicans to solve the issue, the message will sting for liberal politicians who have already voted against reopening on 12 occasions.
Democrats have refused to reopen the government until Republicans agree to compromise on extending parts of the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans have argued Democrats are risking stability for everyday, hardworking Americans in favor of ‘holding out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures.’
The federal government entered into shutdown on October 1 when lawmakers failed to pass new funding bills.
FBI Director Kash Patel also called on lawmakers to find a solution on Monday, noting it was ‘another day where 2/3 of the FBI goes without a paycheck, after 45 Senators (all of whom are still getting paid) voted against paying them last week.
‘When law enforcement isn’t paid, it weakens our ability to keep America safe. We owe it to those who protect this nation to end the shutdown.’
While non-essential government employees have been furloughed during the shutdown, thousands more are being required to work without pay throughout the ongoing saga.
Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers are among those who must work even though they are not being paid.
Republicans have argued Democrats are risking stability for everyday, hardworking Americans in favor of ‘holding out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures’
Staffing issues have also gripped federal industries across the United States, impacting travel from major US airports , including Los Angeles , Chicago , Denver, New York, Houston, Atlanta and other hubs
SNAP is a fully electronic system which allows beneficiaries to receive a set amount of money loaded onto a card each month. The average $187 monthly can then be used like a debit or credit card in stores
In an effort to stem the damage, Trump ordered members of the military to receive pay during the government shutdown.
The president has ruled that they will be paid using any available funds from the Fiscal Year 2026 budget that Congress has already appropriated.
But the crisis will go from bad to worse on November 1 when SNAP benefits run dry.
SNAP is a fully electronic system which allows beneficiaries to receive a set amount of money loaded onto a card each month. The average $187 monthly can then be used like a debit or credit card in stores.
Cards apply to major grocery stores, dollar stores, farmers’ markets, and to order food online from retailers such as Amazon.
Fallout could include sales declining at grocery stores and added strain on food banks as impoverished Americans look for other ways to eat.
