Nearly a Million Federal Workers’ Union Defies Democrats, Urges Chuck Schumer to Pass GOP Clean Bill and Reopen Government Amid 2025 Shutdown
In a stunning rebuke that sent shockwaves through Washington, the nation’s largest federal workers’ union, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), called out Senate Democrats on October 27, urging them to immediately pass the Republican-proposed “clean continuing resolution” to end the month-long government shutdown. The move, representing the collective frustration of nearly 750,000 federal employees and impacting close to a million households, marks one of the most public and consequential breaks between organized labor and Democratic leadership in years.
AFGE President Everett Kelley, speaking in an official statement, said what many federal workers have been afraid to say out loud: “It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.” His message was simple but powerful — workers who keep America running have been left hanging in political limbo, and patience has run out.
The shutdown, which began October 1 after Congress failed to renew government funding, has shuttered countless public offices, delayed paychecks, and thrown essential federal services into chaos. Schumer and Senate Democrats have repeatedly blocked the House-passed clean resolution, arguing that Republicans must first agree to long-term budget negotiations that include new spending provisions. But for the hundreds of thousands of federal employees missing paychecks, those political games have turned from strategy to betrayal.
AFGE’s statement signals a dramatic shift in tone from a union historically aligned with the Democratic Party. By calling for the immediate passage of the Republican proposal — without additional partisan riders or conditions — the union effectively sided with House Republicans who have been pushing for a swift, no-strings-attached reopening of the government. It’s a message that echoes across agencies and communities hit hardest by the shutdown, from TSA agents to VA medical staff to border control personnel still working without pay.
Political observers say this moment could prove devastating for Chuck Schumer and his leadership image. The optics are grim: a union representing the very backbone of federal labor publicly breaking ranks and siding with the opposition. For the Biden administration and Senate Democrats, already battling low approval ratings amid inflation, energy concerns, and a sluggish economy, the pressure has never been higher.
Republicans wasted no time capitalizing on the moment. Within hours of AFGE’s statement, GOP leaders praised the union’s courage and called it proof that the public — and even government workers — are fed up with partisan gridlock. Former President Donald Trump reposted the story, calling the union’s move “a turning point for the American worker” and declaring that “the people are waking up.”
As the standoff stretches on, more cracks may appear in the Democratic front. Federal employees across social media have echoed AFGE’s frustration, with some demanding Schumer “stop holding workers hostage” and others warning that this shutdown could permanently damage public trust in Washington.
For now, Everett Kelley’s words stand as a sharp reminder that even in the most partisan of times, loyalty has its limits. After four weeks of silence and suffering, America’s public servants — and their union — have made it clear: end the shutdown, pass the bill, and let them get back to work.
