Summary
The largest union representing federal employees is urging Congress to end the current government shutdown by passing a funding bill. The shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay, and the union wants these workers to be returned to their jobs with full back pay. The shutdown began because Democrats and Republicans could not agree on health insurance funding.
Key Facts
- The American Federation of Government Employees is the largest union for federal workers.
- About 670,000 federal employees are on furlough, meaning they cannot work or get paid.
- Around 730,000 federal employees are working without pay.
- The union is asking for a short-term funding bill to reopen the government.
- The shutdown started on October 1 due to disagreements over health insurance subsidies.
- President Trump signed a law in 2019 stating federal employees should receive back pay after shutdowns.
- Some government branches are using reserve funds to pay employees.
- A $130 million donation was made to pay US troops during the shutdown.
