Largest federal employee union demands Congress end shutdown

October 27, 2025

The American Federation of Government Employees is urging Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution to end a government shutdown that has reached its 27th day with no resolution in sight between Democrats and Republicans. Approximately 670,000 federal workers are furloughed without pay while another 730,000 are working without compensation, creating severe financial hardship as employees missed their first paycheck and turned to food banks for assistance. The shutdown originated from disagreements over Affordable Care Act subsidies, and while the Trump administration has found funding for military personnel through Pentagon transfers and private donations, Democrats criticize the failure to maintain benefits like SNAP for 40 million low-income Americans.

Who is affected

Approximately 670,000 furloughed federal employees not receiving paychecks
Approximately 730,000 "essential" federal employees working without pay
Over 800,000 workers represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Approximately 40 million low-income Americans and families who rely on SNAP benefits
Federal employee Josue Ortiz and hundreds of other workers using food banks
Millions of Americans using Affordable Care Act health insurance plans

What action is being taken

AFGE National President Everett Kelley is calling for Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution
Hundreds of federal employees are lining up at food banks to receive free boxes of goods
The Trump administration is working to find funding to pay some government branches
Federal courts are utilizing reserve funds to pay employees

Why it matters

This shutdown represents a significant financial crisis for over a million federal workers who are either furloughed or working without pay, forcing them to seek emergency food assistance and struggle to cover basic necessities like rent, groceries, and medicine. The impasse also threatens critical services for vulnerable populations, particularly the 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP benefits that will not be distributed in November. The situation highlights broader dysfunction in the appropriations process and demonstrates how political disagreements in Washington directly harm working families and low-income citizens who rely on government services.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC