John,

When the government shutdown for 17 days in 2013, President Obama canceled an overseas trip to stay in Washington and negotiate with Republicans to re-open the government.

We’re now 24 days into this latest shutdown and where is the House of Representatives? AWOL―Speaker Johnson has kept them out of DC since September 19, giving new meaning to the old saying “My way or the highway.” President Trump is tearing down the East Wing of the White House to make way for a big ballroom. What they aren’t doing is coming to the table to negotiate a bipartisan deal to address skyrocketing health costs and re-open the government.

As Trump and congressional Republicans refuse to negotiate with Democratic leaders, today hundreds of thousands of federal workers just missed another paycheck. Whether it’s essential workers like those who keep our Social Security checks coming while not getting paid themselves, or furloughed workers from whom Trump is threatening to illegally withhold back pay―these are regular working people who still need to put food on the table and keep up with their bills.

That’s why the Coalition on Human Needs is partnering with The Labor Force to send grocery cards to thousands of federal workers who aren’t getting paid. Some are forced to work without pay, some are receiving lay-off notices, or being told that the administration may not provide back pay after the shutdown ends, contrary to what the law requires.

Click here to support federal workers who just want to do their jobs, but are now thrust into hardship. Your donation will be split between The Labor Force and CHN.

While Democrats are demanding Republicans keep health care affordable and accessible for tens of millions of Americans, Republicans appear content to let the shutdown continue as the pain mounts for our communities and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are either sent home, forced to work without pay, or threatened with firing.

With roughly two-thirds of American households living paycheck to paycheck, federal workers along with others need help right now just to put food on the table.

Let’s help federal workers put food on the table as the Trump shutdown continues with no end in sight. Click here to split a donation between The Labor Force and the Coalition on Human Needs to send grocery cards to federal workers.

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your secure donation will go through immediately, split between The Labor Force and Coalition on Human Needs:

Thank you for all that you do to uplift working people and vulnerable communities.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs