AFSCME President Saunders Condemns Threat of Mass Firings in Shutdown

The looming threat of a federal government shutdown has sparked intense debate and concern over potential impacts on federal employees. The latest announcement from the Office of Management and Budget has exacerbated these worries by hinting at possible mass layoffs during such a shutdown.

AFSCME Response to Shutdown Threats

Lee Saunders, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), has responded with criticism aimed at the Trump administration. Saunders accuses the administration of using the shutdown as a tactic to pressure federal workers, rather than addressing crucial issues like the surging Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums, which are projected to affect 22 million Americans.

“After slashing public services nationwide and stripping away health care from millions of people, the Trump administration is now threatening to use a potential federal government shutdown to carry out mass firings. This is a blatant attempt to hold federal workers hostage, instead of addressing an imminent extreme increase in ACA premiums for 22 million Americans. These cynical threats of mass firings, if they occur, will further hurt public services not only at the federal level, but states, cities and towns too. At a time when Americans face a crisis in health care, this administration is choosing to escalate the turmoil by attacking the federal workforce instead of coming to its senses and lowering health care costs for working families. America’s workers are not expendable pawns to be used for crass political purposes. The path forward is clear: Fund the government. Stop health care costs from spiking. Period.”

As the debate over federal funding intensifies, Saunders emphasizes that the focus should shift towards finding solutions to prevent spikes in health care costs, rather than targeting federal employees. The potential shutdown could have widespread repercussions, extending its impact from federal services to state and local levels as well.