Federal Workers’ Union Turns on Democrats, Demands End to Schumer’s Shutdown [WATCH]

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, is calling on Democrats to support a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) and reopen the government, which has remained shut down since October 1.

The AFGE, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, represents more than 800,000 non-postal federal employees across the country, including many based in Washington, D.C.

The union’s leadership released a public statement on Monday urging both parties to set aside political maneuvering and restore government operations immediately.

“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement shared with NBC News.

🚨Big news from @NBCNews: American Federation of Government Employees says it’s time to pass a clean CR and open the government.

AFGE says both sides have made their point. But Democrats have said they’re not trying to make a point they want to enact change

(Reposted due to…

— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 27, 2025

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“It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”

Kelley’s remarks place additional pressure on Senate Democrats, who have so far refused to support a stopgap funding bill without securing a deal on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

Those subsidies help offset premium costs for individuals purchasing coverage through Obamacare exchanges, and Democrats have insisted that any short-term funding package must include provisions to extend them.

Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, have maintained that the government should reopen first and that debates over healthcare subsidies and new spending should be addressed afterward.

The Senate stalemate began when nearly all Democrats voted against a clean CR on October 1, a move that triggered the current shutdown.

Only three Senate Democrats broke ranks to support the funding measure.

Kelley emphasized that the continuing standoff is causing direct harm to workers and their families.

“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,” he said.

He added that lawmakers should focus on “a resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues,” including rising costs and recurring breakdowns in the federal budget process.

Democrats have continued to link their refusal to reopen the government to broader spending demands, which include funding for expanded healthcare access, environmental programs, and overseas initiatives.

Republicans have characterized those demands as unrelated to the immediate need to restore government operations.

In a post on X, Washington Examiner columnist Byron York called the AFGE’s statement a “huge development,” noting that the union is “urging Democrats to abandon their current position and join Republicans in supporting a stopgap solution.”

Wow. Huge development. The union is ‘urging Democrats to abandon their current position and join Republicans in supporting a stopgap solution.’ https://t.co/Bpag9jQ2cP

— Byron York (@ByronYork) October 27, 2025

Speaking to NBC News, Kelley highlighted the toll the shutdown has taken on federal employees, many of whom are missing paychecks and seeking food assistance.

“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,” he said.

“They’re looking for the wages they earned. The fact that they’re being cheated out of it is a national disgrace.”

The union’s statement came days after Senate Democrats blocked a measure by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) that would have temporarily paid certain categories of federal employees during the shutdown.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said Democrats opposed the proposal because they wanted all workers treated equally. “Our belief is that no federal employee, no one should bear the burden or be punished for a shutdown they have nothing to do with,” he said.

“So our view is that we want to make sure everybody gets paid at the end of the day.”

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) acknowledged that the shutdown would harm working families but described it as a necessary form of leverage.

“Of course, there will be families that are going to suffer,” Clark said in an interview.

“We take that responsibility very seriously, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”

The AFGE’s call for a clean CR could provide Democrats with political justification to change course and vote to reopen the government.

As of Monday, however, there was no indication from Senate Democrats that a vote on the funding measure had been scheduled.

The Senate is expected to reconvene this week, but according to the chamber’s official calendar, the continuing resolution is not currently listed on the agenda.