Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has claimed that federal workers support the Democratic Party’s approach to the ongoing government shutdown, despite the financial hardship faced by hundreds of thousands of employees. The Maryland Democrat asserted during a recent interview that workers prioritize opposing President Donald J. Trump’s agenda over receiving timely paychecks. “I think they all would like to see the shutdown end, but they also don’t like giving Donald Trump a blank check,” Van Hollen stated.
The comments come as the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), representing over 800,000 federal workers, urged Democrats to pass a Republican-backed continuing resolution to end the funding lapse. AFGE president Everett Kelley warned that workers were “hurting” during the shutdown, but Democratic leaders have maintained their stance.
Over 700,000 government employees have been furloughed or working without pay, leading to disruptions in critical services, including air traffic control, and forcing many to rely on food banks and second jobs. Democrats have resisted Republican calls to end the shutdown without attaching partisan policy measures to the funding resolution.
Van Hollen’s remarks have drawn criticism as tone-deaf, with some accusing him of prioritizing political strategy over the well-being of federal workers. The senator previously faced scrutiny for his support of a controversial figure linked to criminal activities.
