Statement from Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga on Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown is a direct result of the Administration and Congressional Republicans once again choosing to side with billionaires over hardworking Americans and failing to address the nation’s skyrocketing health care costs.

Since Donald Trump returned to office, federal workers have been under constant attack. These are the people in our communities who care for our veterans, deliver Social Security benefits on time, ensure the safety of our food and water, and protect us at airports and during national emergencies.

In just months, the Administration has stripped more than one million federal employees of their collective bargaining rights and canceled union contracts for nearly 500,000 workers. This blatant union-busting campaign threatens not only the livelihoods of federal workers but the quality of life for millions of Americans who depend on their services.

Now, President Trump is holding the country hostage — refusing to keep the government open unless his administration’s demands are met, rather than working to tackle the pressing health care cost crisis or undo the damage of the radical cuts in his previous “Big, Ugly Bill."

The Ohio labor movement stands in unwavering solidarity with all federal workers, their families, and every Ohioan who depends on the vital federal services. We will continue to fight alongside them until this unnecessary and harmful shutdown is brought to an end by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans.