AFT's Weingarten Reacts to Trump Shutdown

WASHINGTON-AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after President Trump and his acolytes in Congress opted to defund healthcare and hurt workers, rather than keep the government open:

"The American people are always the ones hurt when the government shuts down. It locks out workers and hurts Americans who need government services. This one was completely avoidable if President Trump and the Republicans who control the government had decided to address the healthcare emergency they created in their July omnibus bill rather than defund the government. Under that bill, clinics and rural hospitals will be forced to close or slash services. Millions will lose their health insurance, and those who keep it will have to pay thousands of dollars in higher premiums--all so corporations and the ultrarich can pocket even more in tax giveaways.

"And tonight, they made it worse. Rather than stopping premium hikes for millions of Americans losing their healthcare subsidies, they are holding the American people hostage, refusing to fund essential services unless their harmful policies remain in place. On top of that, they're again hurting federal workers and the essential services they provide by threatening illegal mass layoffs.

"In 2018, under Trump, we saw the first actual shutdown in recent history when one party controlled both Congress and the White House. This is now the second. Fix healthcare, open the government and make workers-not chest pounding-the focus. We call on those in power: Negotiate a solution-one that protects healthcare, lowers everyday costs, reopens the government and helps, rather than hurts, the American people."

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The AFT represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.