LEILA FADEL, HOST:
One of the unions that has filed a lawsuit challenging any layoffs amid the shutdown is the American Federation of Government Employees. It represents over 800,000 federal workers, including TSA agents, Social Security professionals, park rangers and many more. Joining us now to talk about how these workers and you will be impacted by this shutdown is AFGE president Everett Kelley. Everett, thank you for joining us.
EVERETT KELLEY: Thank you, Leila, for having me.
FADEL: So what's the argument your union is making in its lawsuit challenging these layoff threats?
KELLEY: As you know, AFGE and AFSCME filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging the administration's threat to fire large amounts of federal employees if the government shuts down because we don't believe that he has the authority to do that. You know, that plan has nothing to do with and illegal - you know, it's - but it's an illegal abuse of power designed to punish patriotic civil servants and, you know, put pressure on Congress. And we're asking a judge to put a halt, you know, to any mass firing during a government shutdown.
FADEL: Well, yes, we heard the president threaten to do these mass firings, saying he'll cut things that the Democrats like. Which workforce do you believe will be most affected by this shutdown now that it's started?
KELLEY: Well, you know, I don't - I mean, I think it's going to be evenly distributed across the board. And then, too, you know, it's so hard to say with this administration, you know, they're calling this a shutdown, but in actuality, this is an employee lockout. These employees are being locked out of their jobs. They want to go to work, you know, but they are told that they can't go to work, you know? And, you know, they may use a pretty word, but it's still a lockout. So - but it's going to affect - you know, it could affect any number of employees in any agency. That's the thing about it. At this point, they've not even given us implementation plan. Prior to this, you know, we would at least have some implementation plan. There will be some discussions, you know, and it's been nothing. It's been crickets.
FADEL: Oh, really? So what...
KELLEY: Yes.
FADEL: ...Does that mean for implementing the shutdown?
KELLEY: That - nothing.
FADEL: What does this mean for Americans? How will the American public feel the shutdown around services and things like that?
KELLEY: Well, you know, I think that, you know, Americans are going to begin to feel you know, lags in their benefits. You know, there could be delays in filing beneficiary claims. There could be delays in receiving their beneficiaries' payments. It could be, you know, long lines at the airports. I mean, any number of things, you know, veterans coming to receive services could be affected by that, you know? It's a lot of things that is going to occur because of these actions, you know? So I'm encouraging, you know, the Congress to do their job, to figure out - get in a room, shut the door, figure out a way to get the American people what they deserve. And that is put the federal workforce back to work so they can provide the services for the American people.
FADEL: Are there any safety nets in place for services that are deemed absolutely necessary?
KELLEY: Well, you know, the thing is, eventually, you know, these employees will get paid, the federal employees, eventually, you know? But, you know, 65% already work from paycheck to paycheck. So, you know, anytime that they're missing a paycheck could be detrimental to those employees.
FADEL: Everett Kelley is the president for the American Federation of Government Employees. Thank you for your time.
KELLEY: Thank you.
(SOUNDBITE OF AK AND TIM SCHAUFERT'S "TIDES") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
