Largest Federal Employees Union Pushes For An End To The Shutdown

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00:00Largest Federal Employees Union Pushes for an End to the Shutdown

00:05The nation's largest federal workers' union has taken an unexpected stance in the ongoing

00:09government shutdown.

00:11The American Federation of Government Employees, AFGE, representing nearly 800,000 federal

00:16workers, is urging the Senate to pass a clean continuing resolution and end the shutdown,

00:22putting pressure on Democrats who have pushed for added conditions in the funding bill.

00:27AFGE, which typically supports Democratic candidates, is calling on both parties to put politics

00:33aside and focus on reopening the government.

00:36National President Everett Kelly said in a statement,

00:38It's time for our leaders to solve problems for the American people, rather than worry

00:42about who gets the blame for a shutdown that Americans dislike.

00:46He called the standoff an avoidable crisis harming families and communities.

00:51House Speaker Mike Johnson said 1.4 million federal employees missed a paycheck last week,

00:56noting that the House passed a clean funding measure weeks ago.

01:00Vice President J.D. Vance also backed the move, calling it common sense.

01:05Some Democrats are breaking ranks.

01:08Senator John Fetterman said AFGE is on the right side of this, joining a small bipartisan

01:14group urging quick action.

01:16Senator Dick Durbin acknowledged the union's influence but stopped short of changing his stance.

01:21The pressure is mounting, as SNAP food assistance for more than 42 million Americans is set to lapse

01:26on November 1.

01:28Senators Ron Johnson and Chris Van Hollen are reportedly drafting a bipartisan bill to ensure

01:33federal workers are paid, even if the shutdown continues.

01:38Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the Trump administration of intentionally withholding SNAP funds,

01:43while Republicans argue the money has already been reallocated.

01:46With workers, voters, and now unions demanding action, the next 48 hours could determine whether

01:52Congress finds a deal, or lets the shutdown drag on.