The president of the American Federation of Government Employees urged Congress to pass a clean stopgap and restore pay for federal workers as the shutdown entered its fourth week on Monday, Oct. 27, according to the American Federation of Government Employees.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley said the shutdown is “harming families, communities, and the very institutions that hold our country together,” pressing lawmakers to reopen the government “today” and guarantee full back pay. AFGE represents more than 800,000 federal and D.C. employees across mission-critical roles, from food safety and veterans’ care to border security.
“There is no ‘winning’ a government shutdown,” Kelley said, arguing the tactic burdens taxpayers, hurts small businesses, and undermines public trust. He cited employees working without pay or furloughed and missing rent, groceries, and medicine as the impasse drags on.
AFGE outlined three immediate steps: reopen the government under a clean continuing resolution, ensure back pay for all affected workers, and continue bipartisan negotiations on longer-term spending and policy issues. The union framed the path ahead as a bipartisan obligation to resume core operations and paychecks while debates continue, saying the national interest requires swift action.
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