As we head into week three of the federal government shutdown, anxiety is increasing among working families who rely on crucial services, and federal workers have no idea when—or if—they’ll be paid.

The suffering and uncertainty don’t seem to matter to the extremist politicians driving the GOP Shutdown Express. They control the White House, the Senate, and the House and have the power to end this crisis. But last week, the Senate failed for the 10th time to advance a bill to extend government funding. The bill required 60 votes to pass, and the final count was 51-45.

Without a bipartisan agreement, health care premiums will double on Jan. 1, 2026 for 90% of the people covered by the Affordable Care Act. On the same day, the GOP’s reconciliation bill will make tax breaks for the super-wealthy permanent.

Federal employees are pawns in this gamesmanship. On October 10, 4,200 workers across several agencies received reduction-in-force (RIF) notices, including more than 400 Department of Education employees in civil rights, special education, elementary and postsecondary education, and other offices. With the gutting of both special education and civil rights offices, families of our most vulnerable students will have nowhere to turn. Cutting jobs like these ignores the law and disrespects the students that the law was created to protect.

These RIFs are in addition to the more than 2,000 Education employees who left due to layoffs, early retirements, and buyouts earlier this year. The administration is intent upon dismantling what’s left of the department, at the expense of the 90% of America’s students who attend public schools.

The shutdown will inflict yet more pain: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will run out of money at the end of this month, impacting 42 million people who receive benefits. Sadly, SNAP is also slated for the largest cuts in its history—$186 billion over 10 years—as a consequence of the reconciliation bill. This will deny 18 million students access to free school meals.

Tell Congress what you think!

In Solidarity,