After weeks of political stalemate, Washington took notice on Monday when the country’s largest federal workers’ union urged Congress to bring to an immediate end the nearly month-long government shutdown. Everett Kelley, the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees described the shutdown as “an avoidable crisis” and effectively called on Democrats to join Republicans in voting to end it right away.
The statement — from a union that has long endorsed Democrats — represented a dramatic break from what had been the party line: No continuing resolution without a vote to extend health care subsidies. On Capitol Hill, Republicans were gleeful. Democrats, meanwhile, were stuck trying to balance their professed love for hard-hit federal workers against vocal demands from their base calling on the party to stick to its guns.
In an interview with POLITICO Magazine, Kelley said he made no apology for the union’s decision and had to do what was best for his workers.
“I don’t feel like I owe anybody,” he said. “Federal employees are suffering.
The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
What made you decide to call on Congress on Monday to immediately end the government shutdown?
Well, it actually started [last] Thursday, when I woke up, turned on my television, and the first thing I see is federal employees standing in food lines. You know, it just has been long enough. This issue should be resolved.
Yeah, here in Washington, D.C., we are seeing reports that federal workers are lining up at food banks. What are you hearing from your members about how they are struggling and what they are doing to get by?
Well, several things are happening. First of all, they are very distressed. They are very upset. They are angry. Many of them are taking on additional jobs to try to make ends meet. Some are borrowing money from family, friends, lending institutions, you name it. They’re doing whatever it takes to survive. And in the world that we live in, nobody should have to work two jobs or three jobs in order to survive.
Prior to this announcement, did you talk to any Democratic lawmakers to let them know about your plans or to feel them out?
I spoke to, probably, I’m not going to say all of them, but I spoke to plenty of Democratic lawmakers about my position.
Did you talk to them to let them know that you were about to make this statement?
I did.
And what was their response?
Well, of course, they didn’t agree. But, you know, I’m here to represent federal employees, and they understood that.
Your statement didn’t appear to have an immediate impact on the debate, though it’s possible things may be shifting. Were you disappointed by the reaction to your statement in the short term?
Well, I certainly hope that it’s a long-term fix. I do think that there is some movement, because prior to me making a statement, nobody was even talking to each other, but I do think that there is some discussion going on right now.
You’re talking about bipartisan talks?
Yes.
And you think that your statement has helped facilitate that?
Absolutely.
In a post on X following the AFGE’s announcement, Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) wrote, “Even a union that backed Kamala Harris admits it: Democrats caused this shutdown. Pass the clean CR. Reopen the government!” I’m interested in your response to this statement, because in one sense, this is a misrepresentation of your statement—
Absolutely. I’m not here trying to point fingers at any party. Because I represent Democrats, and I represent Republicans. I represent independents. I’m here trying to make sure that federal employees are not used as political parties.
It is a misrepresentation of your statement, but it is also putting pressure on Democrats to reopen the government, which is your goal. So I wanted to get your reaction to Banks’ statement.
Well, certainly, I want the government reopened. I’ve made that point clear from the very beginning. When they were talking about shutting it down, I told everyone that I could talk to that I disagree. And I don’t care who’s in control of the presidency, of the House, of the Senate. I’ve always opposed a government shutdown. I will always oppose a government shutdown because federal employees should never be used as pawns in this political game.
Your statement in favor of the clean CR to reopen the government was widely interpreted as a break with Democrats. Was that your intent?
No, no, no, no. My intent was simply to raise awareness to the fact that federal employees are suffering, and you all do whatever is necessary to get the government opened.
Were you conscious when you were preparing your statement that it could be interpreted as a break with Democrats?
To be honest, I didn’t even think about that. I was just trying to get the point made that it’s time to end the shutdown. Too many federal employees are suffering as a result of it.
The AFGE is a longtime ally of the Democratic Party, and Democrats have been far more supportive of union priorities than Republicans in recent years. Do you feel you owe anything to the Democratic Party during a difficult political battle like this? Do you owe them your support?
I don’t feel like I owe anybody. You know, I think that whoever’s standing for federal employees and their rights; that’s who I support. And in this instance, federal employees are suffering. I’m not trying to support any entity over the other. I’m simply trying to represent the federal employee.
Do you feel like Democrats in Congress have been responsive to the needs of your members during the shutdown?
I think that in some cases, yeah.
In what case, for example?
Well, I think that many Democrats have shown interest in what’s happening with federal employees. Some have even gone overboard to say, “You know what, we’re going to make sure that there are resources for them to tap into, if they need loans, if they need various things.” So I think so.
Do you think the Democratic strategy with regard to the shutdown has been effective?
I certainly think that the point has been made, as I said before.
Do you think it was worth it for congressional Democrats to fight for ACA subsidies?
Listen, I am not trying to say that ACA is not important. I think it’s vitally important, okay? I just don’t think that it should be done holding federal employees hostage. And I do need to back up and say that I brought, I’ve had some Democratic representatives, senators, congressmen visit the airports to carry food to the employees and show that appreciation.
During the shutdown?
Yeah, during the shutdown. When you asked the question earlier, it just didn’t cross my mind. But when I think about it, I’ve had that, and I appreciate that. You know, they showed their appreciation, and I want to show mine. But at the same time, I want to make sure that these employees — some of them are single mothers that have children to feed — I want to make sure that they can feed those children without any additional stress. It’s stressful enough what they have gone through over these last few months.
You’ve been battling the administration’s efforts to mass-fire federal employees and dismantle federal agencies. In terms of your calculus in making this statement, was there any hope that by pushing for an end to the shutdown now, you might be able to reduce the animosity with the Trump administration and potentially make federal workers less of a target for layoffs by the Trump administration?
Well, that wasn’t in my calculation. But I’m always eager to try to make life better for federal employees. And if there are entities out there that don’t understand why federal employees exist, what it is that you do every day, then I’m open to having conversations so that I can try to get them to that point.
Are you concerned that by pushing Democrats to end the shutdown without obtaining the concessions that they’re seeking, you may be emboldening the Trump administration that’s already been so extraordinarily hostile to your members?
Well, I certainly hope that that’s not the case. Like I said before, I’ve already seen some movement as far as the two sides talking to each other. Prior to me issuing that statement, that was no conversation between the two sides, but now I understand that they are talking.
Based on prior shutdowns, how quickly does back pay arrive once things return to normal?
Well, that varies. I don’t know the exact answer to that. But just think about it, 35 days, and if it was another week that was 42 days. And the employees that I represent are just like the rest of America. You know, 65 percent of them live from paycheck to paycheck, so they were already hurting 15 days into this process.
Trump signed an executive order in March aimed at stripping most federal workers of their rights to collectively bargain. Going forward, what recourse do you have?
That’s one thing we will always do. We will continue to fight any administration when they are attacking federal employees or they are violating their rights. Just yesterday, we won another preliminary injunction against this administration for illegally trying to fire employees while they are being furloughed. And we will continue to do that, because it doesn’t matter whose administration, who’s in charge, if you are violating the rights of federal employees, we’re going to stand up for federal employees.
In the case that you are referring to, a federal judge on Tuesday effectively put a stop to any shutdown-related RIFs. If the government reopens, how concerned are you that layoffs will proceed as they were prior to the shutdown without this judicial shield?
Well, if they are violating federal employees’ rights, we’re going to be standing and we’re going to be ready to file lawsuits or whatever we need to do to protect their rights. I think that the government, if they follow rules and regulations, there are certain things they can do. We’re not saying anything about that. It’s when they are doing things that are illegal.
How did the Trump administration’s hostility to unions factor into your decision to call on Congress to end the shutdown?
Again, my main concern was the employees that I represent. I didn’t give thought to the hostility, because it’s not about that with me. This is not about partisan politics. That’s the thing I’m trying to escape from.
Last question. What would you say to people who don’t think federal employees should be able to join a union in the first place?
I would say that they evidently don’t care about democracy in this country, okay? Because it’s through unions that we have checks and balances. It’s through unions that we get an opportunity to say to management and give an alternative to some of their issues [at the workplace]. So, I would say they’re just misinformed.
