Democrats Resist Union Push to Reopen Government | JQJO

Democrats remain unmoved by the largest federal employees union’s renewed demand to reopen the government, extending a shutdown now the second longest in U.S. history and leaving over a million workers unpaid, some turning to food pantries. Senate Democrat Dick Durbin said AFGE’s plea has a lot of impact but predicted no shift, as Democrats resist a short-term funding bill through November 21 without movement on health care costs. Republicans argue the government should reopen first and have offered the CR; Speaker Mike Johnson hopes the union’s push becomes a turning point.