John,
Hundreds of thousands of federal workers did their jobs or were locked out of them through no fault of their own. They inspected our food, cared for veterans, guarded our national parks, and kept our country running even as Donald Trump shut it down.
Now Trump says many of them may never see the paychecks they lost. He actually claimed some “don’t deserve” back pay. This is an attack on public service itself, on the people who make this country function every single day.
Congress can end this cruelty right now by passing emergency legislation that guarantees every furloughed worker full back pay with no exceptions and no excuses. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 was meant to ensure this very protection, but Trump’s White House is now threatening to override it. That’s lawless, heartless, and absolutely unacceptable.
These workers kept faith in their country through uncertainty and hardship. Many are being forced to take out loans, rely on food banks, and miss mortgage payments, all because of a political stunt. They deserve better than broken promises and empty rhetoric.
Tell Congress to stand up for public service. Pass emergency legislation to pay furloughed workers the money they’ve earned and deserve.
Every day this drags on, families across America fall deeper into a financial crisis. The federal government doesn’t just employ bureaucrats. It employs neighbors, veterans, parents, and public servants who keep our communities safe and functional.
The idea that their work is disposable or their labor worthless is an insult to every American who believes in fairness, dignity, and accountability.
This fight is about more than paychecks. It’s about respect for the people who make democracy work. If the White House will not do what’s right, Congress must.
Make it clear that workers are not political pawns. They deserve every dollar they are owed, and the country owes them our gratitude, not scorn.
Demand Congress act now to pay furloughed workers every cent they earned.
Together, we can stand up for every worker who keeps this country running.
- DFA AF Team
