Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland took a bold stand this week, leading a press conference outside the Office of Management and Budget as he rallied fellow lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia. Their message was crystal clear: the Republican party and the Trump administration are culpable for the ongoing government shutdown, and their actions are wreaking havoc on federal workers and the critical services they provide.
“When Donald Trump shuts down the federal government, the Maryland and Virginia delegation comes together and steps up,” Van Hollen declared, underscoring the significant number of federal employees residing in the region. This is not just a local issue; it is a national crisis that affects millions of Americans who depend on the essential services that these workers provide daily.
Federal employees are the backbone of our society. They are the ones who support our veterans, ensure the safety of our food and water, and contribute to the development of treatments and cures for diseases that impact every American family. When Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought launch vicious attacks against these workers, they are directly attacking the American people. This is a calculated assault on our democracy and our well-being.
Van Hollen emphasized that this shutdown is unlike previous ones. It is part of an alarming pattern of behavior by this administration, which seems intent on using the shutdown as a means to terrorize and demoralize patriotic federal employees. The psychological toll of such tactics cannot be understated. Layoffs that the Trump administration had ominously warned about began to materialize last week, with over 4,000 workers receiving reduction-in-force notices from seven different agencies. This is not merely a furlough; it is an outright threat to livelihoods and families.
In previous government shutdowns, federal workers were furloughed, a temporary measure that allowed for the eventual reopening of the government. Now, under the Trump administration, we see a disturbing trend: firing and threatening to fire federal employees as a means to instill fear and uncertainty. This is not just a political maneuver; it is a campaign designed to inflict trauma on our federal workforce, to dismantle the very fabric of our public service.
Van Hollen’s call to action is both necessary and urgent. He urged the administration to cease its attacks on federal employees and, by extension, the American people. It is time for the Trump administration to engage in meaningful negotiations to reopen the federal government. This shutdown is not just a political chess game; it has real-world consequences for the lives of working Americans who serve the public good.
The time has come to hold this administration accountable for its reckless disregard for the well-being of our federal workers and the citizens they serve. We must stand together in solidarity with those on the frontlines, advocating for their rights and demanding that our government be a force for good. Federal workers deserve better, and the American people deserve a government that works for them, not against them. The fight for justice, equality, and accountability begins now.
This article highlights the importance of WORKERS UNDER ATTACK.
