Most government shutdowns take place during times of divided government. But Republicans control the White House and both houses of Congress. And Republicans have said they’re not going to negotiate, according to Everett Kelley, the national President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union for federal and D.C. government employees.
Although he’s heard from many Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Kelley says it’s been radio silence from Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration.
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So why is this happening now? One reason seems to be that the Trump administration wants to use this shutdown as an excuse to fire thousands of government employees. AFGE is suing over this, calling it “completely illegal.” Kelley argues this is just one of many actions by the administration intended to “antagonize,” “intimidate,” and “make the life miserable” for federal workers. He characterizes it as retaliation for the union and employees standing up against reckless cuts and the dismantling of the government, as well as an attempt to put the federal government in a “mission failure” state so they can justify contracting out those jobs.
Kelly also talks with Lincoln Square Executive Editor Susan J. Demas about the union’s lawsuit against the administration for allegedly violating workers’ First Amendment rights by ordering official communications to blame Democrats for the shutdown — a move he says forces employees into Hatch Act violations.
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Speaking as a veteran himself, Kelly emphasizes the severe impact on the morale of the workforce, a third of whom are veterans. He notes that 65% of federal workers live paycheck-to-paycheck, making the loss of one paycheck potentially detrimental for things like mortgage payments or medication. And he says the shutdown also will hurt the American people and the economy.
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