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WASHINGTON – The unnecessary and chaotic countdown to another government funding deadline is already disrupting the lives of federal employees who fear a shutdown could once again threaten their paychecks and interrupt services to the American people.

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents about 150,000 frontline government workers across the country, is calling on Congress to resolve the standoff and provide agencies with an operating budget for the fiscal year that starts in less than three weeks.

“Just because the shutdown threat has become commonplace doesn’t mean federal employees aren’t worried. A shutdown is a political failure that sends shockwaves through the economy, starting with federal employees who may be locked out of work and not get paid,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald.

The initial plan from Republican leadership in the House to pass a continuing resolution that avoids the tough decisions on spending for six months is also unacceptable, Greenwald said.

“The six-month continuing resolution proposed by House Republican leadership is not a serious effort to lead.  It is time to stop playing politics and ensure that the federal government is adequately funded beyond Oct. 1,” Greenwald said. “This initial proposal shows that the House GOP would rather our federal agencies limp along at last year’s funding levels without any consideration for how it impacts agencies’ abilities to serve the public. It would hamper agency operations across the board, shortchange employees who deserve adequate resources to do their work and add to the frustration of the American people who expect members of Congress to their job.”

 A continuing resolution without special considerations for the IRS could also force another $20.2 billion cut from the Inflation Reduction Act funds that are rebuilding the IRS, improving taxpayer services and forcing wealthy tax evaders to pay what they owe.

“In the case of the IRS, a continuing resolution would turn back the clock on all of the documented progress the agency has made to restore its workforce and modernize operations,” Greenwald said. “Shutdowns and long-term stopgap funding both deprive taxpayers of the day-to-day government services they need and chase skilled workers out of public service and into the private sector.”

NTEU represents employees in 35 federal agencies and offices.