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Jeffries, caught off guard, stumbled through his response: “Uh, it’s not a setup beyond what we could do.” His vague reply did little to deflect the reality — Democrats had failed to act when they had full control of Washington, and now they’re pointing fingers at Republicans.
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But it wasn’t just CNBC calling out the left. Even the largest federal employee union, a traditional ally of the Democratic Party, is turning against them for allowing the shutdown to drag on.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing more than 820,000 federal and D.C. workers, issued a scathing statement demanding that Congress — including Democratic leaders — stop playing political games and reopen the government.
“This week, Congress pushed our nation into the fourth week of a full government shutdown — an avoidable crisis that is harming families, communities, and the very institutions that hold our country together,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley.
Kelley didn’t mince words about who holds the power of the purse: Congress, not President Trump. “Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” he wrote.
The union boss called for immediate action: “Today I’m making mine: it’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship. Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.”
Kelley’s frustration reflects the growing anger among government workers caught in the middle of Washington’s partisan gridlock. “As president of the American Federation of Government Employees, I represent over 800,000 federal and D.C. government workers who serve with pride and professionalism,” he wrote, emphasizing their essential roles — from keeping skies safe to inspecting food and securing borders.
“They ensure our skies are safe, our veterans receive care, our borders are protected, and our food is inspected. They come from every political background and every corner of this nation. What unites them is a simple belief: that service to country is honorable work,” Kelley continued.
His message carried a strong warning to lawmakers: “Today, that belief is being tested. The Army nurse in San Antonio, the TSA officer in Atlanta, the USDA food safety inspector in Iowa, and hundreds of thousands more like them are being asked to keep our country running without the paychecks that keep their own households afloat.”
“These are patriotic Americans – parents, caregivers, and veterans – forced to work without pay while struggling to cover rent, groceries, gas and medicine because of political disagreements in Washington. That is unacceptable,” Kelley declared.
He ended with a message that seemed aimed directly at Democratic leadership: “It’s long past time for our leaders to put aside partisan politics and embrace responsible government. A strong America requires a functioning government — one that pays its bills, honors its commitments, and treats its workforce with respect by paying them on time.”
With Democrats under fire from both the media and their own allies, the shutdown crisis is quickly becoming a political disaster of their own making — and Becky Quick’s on-air confrontation may have just exposed it for all to see.
