Federal Unions Demand End to Prolonged U.S. Government Shutdown

The U.S. government shutdown has entered its fourth week, with over 1.4 million federal employees, including essential workers like TSA agents and air traffic controllers, left without pay. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal workers' union, has called on Congress for a clean continuing resolution to immediately reopen the government without policy conditions, emphasizing the urgent need to restore operations and provide full back pay. The shutdown has also jeopardized critical services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), affecting millions of Americans. Despite pressure from unions and the public, political deadlock persists, with Senate Democrats blocking Republican proposals and Republicans blaming Democrats for prolonging the crisis, labeling it the "Schumer Shutdown." Additionally, political figures such as George Whitesides, Adam Gray, and Josh Harder have been singled out by union advocates and Republican spokespeople for their roles in maintaining the shutdown, which is described as a "hostage crisis" harming workers. Unions continue to urge an immediate resolution to end the shutdown and alleviate the hardships faced by federal workers and the public.