October 9, 2025

Washington, D.C. — As the Trump Shutdown drags into its ninth day, the Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO, is calling out the President and his allies for using America’s federal workforce as political pawns.

Edward Jones, President of the Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO, issued the following statement:

“Tomorrow represents the last paycheck workers will receive during the Trump Shutdown; three days short of their full pay period. America’s federal workers are still being forced to bear the brunt of this political chaos. Thousands of dedicated public servants—shipyard workers, defense personnel, and others who keep our nation safe—continue to report for duty without pay, held hostage by a manufactured crisis they did not create.

Now, instead of working to reopen the government, Donald Trump and Russell Vought are doubling down on threats to withhold pay and fire federal employees. These threats are not only cruel—they are illegal. Federal workers cannot be punished for political reasons, and no one in the White House has the authority to disregard the law.

These shameful attacks do nothing to end the shutdown or address the real challenges facing working families. Trump owns this shutdown. His reckless actions and disregard for the law are damaging our government, our economy, and the lives of those who serve the American people every day.

We demand that the President and Congress end the shutdown immediately and turn their attention to solving the crises that actually matter—starting with ensuring every American has access to affordable, quality healthcare. Our workers deserve respect, not retaliation.”

The Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO, represents thousands of unionized shipyard and defense workers across the United States who are being directly affected by the ongoing shutdown.

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