Federal Employees: End the U.S. Government Shutdown!

Federal Employees in the U.S. Raise Their Voices Against the Shutdown

The National President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Everett Kelley, emphasized that the government shutdown must come to an end. In a statement, Kelley noted that this situation affects over 800,000 federal and government employees every day.

The Shutdown Harms Families and Communities

Kelley described the government shutdown as an "avoidable crisis that harms families, communities, and the institutions that hold the country together." He pointed out the ongoing uncertainty about when it will end and expressed that it is unacceptable for workers to go without pay.

Political Problems and Economic Impacts

Kelley highlighted that government shutdowns have become a recurring tactic in Washington and stated that there is no "winner" in this situation. He mentioned that it costs taxpayers billions of dollars, harms small businesses, and undermines trust in the government. Kelley called for the government to immediately reopen and for workers to receive their pay.

Federal Government Closed Since October 1

The federal government has been closed since October 1 due to a budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. According to American law, Congress must approve the budget for the fiscal year; otherwise, temporary stopgap budgets need to be enacted to rectify the situation. In the absence of a stopgap budget, the federal government is forced to suspend all operations.

During this process, public employees working in non-essential services are placed on unpaid leave, while personnel in the U.S. military, intelligence agencies, public hospitals, airports, and prisons continue to work. However, these workers typically do not receive their pay during shutdown periods until Congress passes a new budget.