Federal workers urge Dems to shut down the government to rein in White House

"A shutdown would mean that many of these folks would go without pay, and those using their names are risking their jobs. The letter follows similar ones from inside specific agencies, including from employees at the EPA, NIH, NASA and FEMA. In two cases, workers were fired and suspended for speaking up. Between the lines: Even while writing that these issues are beyond politics, the letter's first demand is to restore subsidies for Obamacare."

"Every member of Congress should be clear-eyed: ceding more of Congress's power to avoid a shutdown will only worsen the damage, embolden authoritarianism, and cost the country more in the long run, Do not repeat March's mistake, when a bad CR [continuing resolution] paved the way for mass firings across our agencies, gutted science, slashed health care access, and emboldened further attacks. We do not want a shutdown, but we will accept a temporary shutdown to preserve our government on behalf of the American people."

Many federal employees face unpaid leave and job risk if a shutdown occurs. Employees across agencies demand restoration of Obamacare subsidies, research funding, and reversal of White House impoundments. They call for reinstatement of workers fired or suspended for speaking up and restoration of federal union rights. Organizers frame demands as protecting public health and urge both parties to act before the Sept. 30 funding deadline. The administration defends its changes as efficiency measures. Employees warn that ceding congressional authority to avoid a shutdown would worsen damage and embolden authoritarianism.

Read at Axios