We’re in a government shutdown. [ [link removed] ]Join the rapid response call tonight
(8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT) to discuss the state of play and our next steps.
*This call will be recorded for those who can't join due to Yom Kippur or
other obligations.
Indivisibles, we officially entered a Trump Shutdown last night.
We’re here because Republicans -- who control the White House and both
chambers of Congress -- refuse to pass a funding plan to [ [link removed] ]stop health
insurance costs from doubling this winter. Democrats are rightfully
fighting for a budget that prevents Trump’s massive healthcare cuts and
price increases.
There are things we can do to help end this shutdown quickly -- and in a
way that keeps healthcare costs down and reins in Trump. We share those at
the end of this email.
We also realize that this is an unnerving and confusing time for many
people, particularly federal workers, so we’ll do our best to explain what
may happen next. Let’s start there.
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What happens during a shutdown?
The Trump Shutdown is going to impact all of us. Day-to-day
services/benefits like [ [link removed] ]air travel, social security checks, and safety
net programs could see significant delays. National parks and other
federal sites could close or slash their hours, but that hasn’t been
confirmed yet.
And in the coming days, federal agencies must classify workers and
operations as “essential” or “nonessential.” Essential workers keep
working without pay throughout the shutdown, while nonessential workers
get sent home. Both receive automatic backpay once the government reopens,
though federal contractors do not.
The president has discretion over what is deemed essential, but a shutdown
[ [link removed] ]does not give the president any additional legal authority to fire
federal workers. And contrary to online rumors, courts can still consider
cases challenging the administration’s actions during a shutdown.
It’s also worth noting that Trump has spent this entire term firing
historic numbers of federal workers and attempting to shutter entire
departments -- working outside his legal authority to lead a sort of
“rolling shutdown” since day one. That’s why [ [link removed] ]federal workers have
called on Democrats to hold the line even as Trump shuts down the
government, declaring they'd “willingly forego paychecks in the hopes of
preserving the programs we have devoted our lives to administering.”
There’s a lot that’s unknown or hard to predict, and we expect Trump and
his cronies to test the boundaries or blow right past them, as they have
all along. That’s why we need all hands on deck.
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How does this end?
Trump and congressional Republicans control a federal government trifecta;
they are responsible for ending the shutdown. Republicans must negotiate a
bipartisan deal that delivers relief from the healthcare crisis they’re
escalating and stops Trump from weaponizing our taxpayer dollars.
Democrats must stay focused on realistic, achievable goals for using their
leverage. We can’t end fascism in one fell swoop, but we can reassert
limits on Trump’s budget hijacking and save healthcare for millions of
people.
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Our viewpoint & goals
We’re disappointed to be facing a government shutdown and want it to end
quickly. But Democrats cannot simply roll over and allow Trump to jack up
our healthcare prices or keep lawlessly weaponizing our tax dollars.
We need to keep up the pressure until Republicans get serious about
stopping the healthcare-cost crisis and reining in Trump. We do that by:
* Pushing congressional Republicans to negotiate a bipartisan deal that
protects healthcare and denies Trump a blank check for his
authoritarian wishlist
* Making sure our communities know that Republicans are responsible for
rising costs, economic chaos, ripping away healthcare, and
militarizing our communities
* Urging Democrats to stand strong and get loud in calling out
Republicans’ attacks on working families, our economy, and our
democracy
Republicans could end this Trump Shutdown TODAY by passing a deal that
averts the massive spike in healthcare costs and takes away Trump’s blank
checks. But they won’t do that unless we force them to.
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What to do
We’re working with partners and activists nationwide to form a
boots-on-the-ground response that keeps the pressure on congressional
Republicans and stiffens Senate Democrats’ spines. You can learn how to
plug into that work later today.
[ [link removed] ]Join tonight’s all-hands call* with Public Citizen, WFP, MoveOn, and
Fair Share America to discuss a unified, nationwide response to end the
Trump Shutdown.
We also need to make sure our Members of Congress hear our demands loud
and clear today. Here’s how you can make your voice heard right now:
* [ [link removed] ]Call your Republican senator(s). Tell them you blame them for the
Trump Shutdown, and demand that they support a bipartisan deal to stop
healthcare price increases.
* [ [link removed] ]Call your Democratic senator(s). Urge them to keep holding the line
against Trump attacks and Republican games.
* [ [link removed] ]Share the truth on social media with our pre-made posts. Choose and
customize one of our pre-made social posts to help win the online
messaging battle.
* [ [link removed] ]Bookmark our toolkit for more info, resources, and actions. This
is a rapidly evolving fight. Our toolkit will be updated with the
latest news, guidance, and to-dos.
We hope to see you on tonight’s call, and we look forward to fighting
alongside you to rein in the regime, save healthcare, and end this Trump
Shutdown soon.
In solidarity,
Indivisible Team
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*We recognize that today is the holiest of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur. A
recording of tonight’s call will be posted for those who cannot attend.
Even if you cannot join, [ [link removed] ]please register for tonight’s call to have
the recording link sent directly to your inbox.
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