HOLDING THE LINE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES
Federal workers ensure our food is safe to eat, prepare for and respond to natural disasters, combat public health outbreaks, distribute Social Security, protect consumers from fraud, and do so much more.
But the billionaire class, the “yes” men and women in Congress, and anti-union extremists — all of whom have seized control of government — are tearing apart the public services that keep us safe every day.
AFSCME represents thousands of executive-branch employees whose work includes promoting public safety at the Department of Justice, flight safety at the Federal Aviation Administration, our food systems at the Department of Agriculture, civic participation at AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, pro-democracy journalism at Voice of America, and veteran and servicemember health care at military and Veterans Affairs hospitals.
But today, illegal mass firings and reckless cuts at the federal level are threatening everyone’s safety and our nation’s future. That includes AFSCME members employed at the state and local levels whose work is funded by the federal government.
Even as our union has had some success in the courts in protecting our members, the attacks keep coming. As the well-being of our communities hangs in the balance, federal workers, whether displaced or still serving, and state and local workers who rely on federal funding, are raising their voices and sounding the alarm.
Here are their stories.
Our stories are Our Power
Read Our Stories
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Daniel Ronneberg
“Lots of people have left because of the miserable working conditions imposed. We will reach a tipping point that will result in a dramatic decrease in safety.”
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Kelly Daly
“The federal government, through AmeriCorps, plays an important role. My biggest concern is this false narrative that without us, other organizations are going to step in.”
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Liliana Bachelder
“We have lost a massive amount of talent. People with the knowledge just aren’t here. This will impact communities across the United States that rely on the income generated by agricultural trade.”
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Patrick Johnston
“Any cuts to the library’s budget make it harder for staff to do their jobs. IMLS funding allows staff to run programs serving our most in-need and vulnerable community members.”
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Yonah Bromberg Gaber
“There is no doubt that the loss of IMLS grant funds will require DCPL to reduce their programing and cut staff. … It is substantially certain that the loss of IMLS funds … will make it harder for Local 1808 members to do their jobs.”