Core Points - The largest federal employee union in the U.S. is urging Congress to end a government shutdown that has lasted for four weeks, increasing pressure on Senate Democrats who have repeatedly blocked Republican proposals [1][2] - The union represents over 800,000 federal employees and claims the current situation is a "crisis that could have been avoided," affecting countless families and communities [1][6] - The shutdown has resulted in hundreds of thousands of federal employees, including air traffic controllers, facing unpaid work, leading to potential chaos at airports [2][6] Summary by Sections Union's Position - The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is calling for a "clean" continuing resolution to end the shutdown, which is a short-term spending bill [1] - AFGE has not named any political party in its demands but aligns with Republican calls for action [2] Impact on Federal Employees - Many federal employees did not receive full pay last week, and more will face unpaid situations this week, forcing them to rely on savings, short-term loans, or food banks [2] - The union's statement has been acknowledged by Democrats, but they remain opposed to Republican proposals [3] Legislative Context - A temporary funding bill proposed by Republicans passed the House but has been repeatedly blocked in the Senate, where a supermajority is required [4] - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer insists that bipartisan negotiations on healthcare subsidies must occur before any government restart [4] Political Dynamics - Some lawmakers have proposed separate bills to pay federal employees during the shutdown, but it remains unclear if Republican leadership will allow these bills to be voted on [5] - The ongoing shutdown reflects deep political polarization in the U.S., with ordinary citizens and federal employees becoming collateral damage in partisan conflicts [6]