AFGE Statement on Shutdown Deal

WASHINGTON – American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. today issued the following statement:

“For 35 days and counting, 800,000 federal employees have been locked out of their jobs or forced to work without pay due to an entirely deliberate government shutdown. The agreement reached by the White House and Congress would re-open the government for three weeks, allowing employees to start receiving paychecks for the first time this year.

“While reopening the government is long overdue, I will not celebrate a temporary reprieve to a politically motivated crisis that has left many federal employees in anguish over how to pay their bills, feed their families, and keep a roof over their heads.

“Over the next three weeks, Congress must pass full-year appropriations for all government agencies as well legislation to make all affected federal employees whole. We are also urging Congress to act to prevent the use of shutdowns from ever occurring again.”

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.

For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.