{"id":293021,"date":"2025-10-10T22:10:13","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T22:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/293021\/"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:10:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T22:10:13","slug":"dallas-federal-employees-demand-end-to-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/293021\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas federal employees demand end to shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

North Texas elected officials and federal union representatives joined together Friday to demand an end to the government shutdown<\/a>, which they say is hurting them, their families and the country.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, said over 130,000 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are federal employees<\/a> and the shutdown is having a ripple effect on the local economy.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"Airline<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking sure that everyday average people that just want to go to the [State] Fair with their family and not have to worry about making a choice between the fair and keeping their lights on, should be important to everyone, whether Republican or a Democrat,\u201d Veasey said.<\/p>\n

The government shutdown entered its tenth day as President Donald Trump and GOP congressional leaders remained gridlocked with Democratic lawmakers over spending. On Friday afternoon, the White House budget office announced that mass firings of federal workers had begun<\/a> in an attempt to put more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the shutdown continued.<\/p>\n

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Last month, Republicans had proposed keeping the government funded at current levels through mid-November. Democrats voted against the measure. They want more than $1 trillion to extend health care subsidies and to reverse Medicaid cuts in Trump\u2019s Big Beautiful Bill.<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Frisco, highlighted on social media that soldiers deployed to the Middle East could miss their paychecks next week if the government remains shut down.<\/p>\n

\"Congressman<\/p>\n

Congressman Marc Vease speaks during a press conference demanding an end to the government shutdown, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Dallas. <\/p>\n

Shafkat Anowar \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

\u201cHouse Republicans did our job. We passed a clean extension to keep the government open, fund our military, and protect America<\/a>,\u201d posted on X on Friday. \u201cThe Democrats rejected it. This isn\u2019t about budgeting for them \u2014 it\u2019s about political theater at the expense of our troops.\u201d<\/p>\n

Federal employees have missed paychecks during previous shutdowns, and the first pay period is due next week, but Trump is now threatening to eliminate guaranteed back pay<\/a>. The White House budget office, under Russ Vought, argues the law says back pay is not automatic, and Congress needs to approve it.<\/p>\n

Fallon blamed Democrats for the shutdown, saying \u201cit\u2019s disgraceful\u201d that American troops were being asked to risk their lives for their country without pay<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Justin Chen, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Council 238,<\/a> which represents Environmental Protection Agency union employees, said furloughing EPA employees threatens public health and environmental safety because their work is critical to protecting clean air, water and soil.<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\"American<\/p>\n

\u201cMy colleagues show up every day to protect the health of Americans in the environment,\u201d Chen said. \u201cThe work that we all do is essential and should be treated as such because nobody wants to breathe in dirty air, drink contaminated water, or live on contaminated soil that will kill them. Pollution and climate emergencies don\u2019t stop because of the government shutdown.\u201d <\/p>\n

Chen and Veasey were joined by State Rep. Terry Meza, an Irving Democrat; Johnny Jones, AFGE Council 100 Secretary-Treasurer representing Transportation Security Administration employees; and other union leaders, who called the shutdown an attack on America\u2019s people. <\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s time for a new deal for the American people\u2019<\/p>\n

This is the first shutdown since December 2018, when the government came to an impasse under Trump for 35 days, the longest in U.S. history.<\/p>\n

Chen said the public has the right to access all the services for which they pay taxes. <\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to Mr. Russ Vought, apparently some [federal workers] are going to be laid off. The bottom line of this is that federal workers such as us should not be used as bargaining chips in a funding battle,\u201d Chen said. \u201cWe deserve stability and respect, not to be used as pawns in this battle.\u201d <\/p>\n

Other EPA employees present in the room expressed fear of being furloughed or terminated and were unsure if they would be able to pay their bills the following month. <\/p>\n

\"AFGE<\/p>\n

AFGE Council 100 Secretary Treasurer Johnny Jones, speaks during a press conference demanding an end to the government shutdown, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Dallas. <\/p>\n

Shafkat Anowar \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n

During the news conference, Jones, representing Transportation Security Administration union members, asked all federal employees to unite forces, speak out and protect their rights. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not just a government shutdown; it\u2019s about our rights being rolled back,\u201d Jones said. \u201cIf they could take away our contracts, they will take away your contracts. This is just the beginning. And it\u2019s time for a new deal for the American people, because we have been getting the wrong deal, and we\u2019re sick and tired of it.\u201d <\/p>\n