Largest Federal Workers Union Urges Clean Bill to End Lengthy Government Shutdown

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing over 800,000 federal and D.C. government workers, is urging Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to end the government shutdown, which has entered its 27th day and is the second-longest in U.S. history. AFGE national president Everett Kelley condemned the shutdown as an "avoidable crisis" that is punishing federal workers, many of whom are furloughed or working without pay, forcing some to rely on food banks. Kelley called for no half-measures or political gamesmanship, demanding full back pay for all federal workers and an immediate reopening of government agencies, emphasizing that policy debates should resume only once workers are made whole. The shutdown has also impacted other sectors, with pilot unions and air traffic controllers calling on lawmakers to support a clean CR to restore government operations and ensure safety and efficiency in air travel. Despite the bipartisan deadlock over health care subsidy extensions, AFGE stresses that the current impasse harms families, communities, and trust in government, urging lawmakers to prioritize solving problems over assigning blame. The Trump administration's controversial stance on withholding back pay is also criticized, with AFGE labeling the situation a "national disgrace" and demanding fair treatment for federal employees.