Senate Democrats reportedly faced a sharp rebuke on Monday from a constituency they have long considered reliably in their corner: federal workers.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, issued an unusually direct call for Democrats to immediately end the shutdown by backing the bipartisan House-passed spending bill.
“It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today,” AFGE national president Everett Kelley said in a statement. “No half measures, and no gamesmanship. Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.”
The union, which represents over 800,000 government employees, urged Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus to stop blocking efforts to reopen the government. “It’s long past time for our leaders to put aside partisan politics and embrace responsible government,” Kelley continued. “A strong America requires a functioning government — one that pays its bills, honors its commitments, and treats its workforce with respect by paying them on time.”
The intervention marks a significant political moment. The AFGE has been a strong supporter of Democrats for years, even endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.
The union has also criticized Republicans — especially President Donald Trump — for trying to rein in what they view as an increasingly bloated federal bureaucracy. But now, after nearly a month of shuttered government operations, the union’s patience has run out with Democratic leadership.
Monday marked Day 27 of the shutdown, one of the longest in American history. The AFGE’s letter, first reported by NBC News, came as federal workers missed their first full paycheck on Friday.
Many have been forced into temporary work or are relying on food banks. For millions more Americans, the situation is equally dire: funding for food assistance programs such as SNAP — which serves roughly 42 million people — could lapse in at least 25 states this week.
While Senate Republicans have been united behind the House-passed “clean” funding bill, Democrats have repeatedly rejected it — 12 times so far, with another vote expected as soon as Tuesday. Schumer and his caucus are demanding additional spending on Obamacare subsidies and what Republicans describe as “costly left-wing priorities” as a condition for ending the shutdown.
A small handful of Democrats broke ranks last week, including Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman and Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, voting to ensure pay for essential federal workers and military personnel during the shutdown.
Fetterman made clear he has little patience for the partisan standoff: “Just open up the whole thing and just cut the shit,” he told reporters. “I don’t care about who’s winning, who’s losing, who’s going to blink.”
Republicans seized on the AFGE’s criticism. “It’s a national disgrace what Democrats are doing to good, hard working people, to women, infants, and children,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. “What are these Democrats doing? What happened to your father’s Democrat Party?”
Despite mounting pressure, Senate Democratic leadership has shown no signs of retreating. Republicans need at least five more Democratic votes to reach the Senate’s 60-vote threshold and reopen the government. One Republican senator, Rand Paul of Kentucky, has withheld support, arguing the proposal does not sufficiently cut federal spending.
Schumer’s office did not respond to a request for comment — even as the calls to act come from those Democrats claim to champion: American workers.
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