Liberal Unions Will Accept ‘Severe Hardship’ If They Can Stick It To Trump During Shutdown
As the government shutdown nears its third week, dozens of federal unions have declared their support for continuing the standoff, even as the closure threatens their members’ paychecks and job security. In a joint memo released Monday, the Federal Unionists Network (FUN) and 35 affiliated national, state, and local unions urged Democratic leaders to stand firm against what they called a “clean” Republican budget proposal, saying short-term pain may be necessary to protect vital public programs.
“A government shutdown is never Plan A,” the letter stated. “Federal workers and the communities we serve will face severe hardship. But federal workers will willingly forego paychecks in the hopes of preserving the programs we have devoted our lives to administering.” The message underscores how deeply partisan the current budget dispute has become, with unions aligning behind Democratic leaders who insist on protecting healthcare subsidies and social programs targeted for cuts.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have both indicated they are unwilling to reopen the government without a deal that includes continued funding for key initiatives—among them, an extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits. Republicans argue that such negotiations should come only after passing a stopgap funding bill, noting the subsidies do not expire until year’s end.
The unions’ letter expressed frustration with the administration’s budget approach, saying workers must take a stand “to send a message to this Administration that enough is enough.” Their position reflects growing solidarity among public sector workers who see the shutdown as a political turning point rather than a temporary crisis.
The Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that permanently extending the healthcare subsidies would cost roughly $350 billion over the next decade, a price tag Republicans have cited as proof of fiscal irresponsibility. For now, the gridlock remains total: Democrats refuse to approve a continuing resolution without concessions, and Republicans insist the government must reopen before broader negotiations can begin.