AFT president criticizes Trump administration over government shutdown’s impact on workers

AFT President Randi Weingarten responded to the recent government shutdown, criticizing President Trump and Congressional Republicans for decisions that she says have harmed workers and disrupted healthcare services.

In her statement, Weingarten said, "The American people are always the ones hurt when the government shuts down. It locks out workers and hurts Americans who need government services. This one was completely avoidable if President Trump and the Republicans who control the government had decided to address the healthcare emergency they created in their July omnibus bill rather than defund the government. Under that bill, clinics and rural hospitals will be forced to close or slash services. Millions will lose their health insurance, and those who keep it will have to pay thousands of dollars in higher premiums––all so corporations and the ultrarich can pocket even more in tax giveaways."

She further added, "And tonight, they made it worse. Rather than stopping premium hikes for millions of Americans losing their healthcare subsidies, they are holding the American people hostage, refusing to fund essential services unless their harmful policies remain in place. On top of that, they’re again hurting federal workers and the essential services they provide by threatening illegal mass layoffs."

Weingarten referenced a previous shutdown during Trump's presidency when one party controlled both Congress and the White House: "In 2018, under Trump, we saw the first actual shutdown in recent history when one party controlled both Congress and the White House. This is now the second. Fix healthcare, open the government and make workers—not chest pounding—the focus. We call on those in power: Negotiate a solution—one that protects healthcare, lowers everyday costs, reopens the government and helps, rather than hurts, the American people."

The statement was also signed by Fedrick C. Ingram (Secretary-Treasurer) and Evelyn DeJesus (Executive Vice President) of the American Federation of Teachers.