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WASHINGTON – Shutting down the federal government would damage the U.S. economy, inflict financial stress on federal employees and their families, and deprive the public of the taxpayer-funded services they need, according to a letter NTEU sent Wednesday to House and Senate leaders urging them to approve agency spending levels before the fast-approaching deadlines. 

“A government shutdown would be disastrous for the country,” NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald wrote to the Democratic and Republican leaders. “As you know, the 35-day shutdown in 2019 cost the United States economy $11 billion, caused significant hardship for the 800,000 federal workers who missed two paychecks and denied critical government services to the American people.” 

Congress has yet to approve fiscal year 2024 funding for federal agencies. Under a short-term agreement, funding for some agencies expires Jan. 19, and others are funded only through Feb. 2. If appropriations lapse, some employees will be furloughed and others will be required to continue working, without pay.  

Greenwald, who was an IRS employee and local NTEU chapter president during the 35-day shutdown of 2018-19, reminded Congressional leaders of the hardship that federal employees endure when their paychecks stop. 

“Federal employees and their families struggled with how to pay their mortgage, rent, health care, utilities, and credit card bills. Every day, I heard from members who were terrified about how they would be able to get by without their paychecks—how they would pay for their kid’s college tuition or for their ailing parent’s medical care,” Greenwald wrote. “You have it in your power to ensure that this does not happen again.” 

NTEU also supports the top line spending agreement that is in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, and urges Congress to reject deep cuts and instead provide agencies with adequate funding levels to give employees the staffing and resources they need to do the job, including the IRS and Customs and Border Protection which generate revenue through proper enforcement of the tax code and facilitating trade and travel. Finally, NTEU does not support proposals for another fiscal commission to address the federal deficit because it would bypass the role of the elected representatives of Congress. 

NTEU represents employees in 35 federal agencies and offices.