(Adnkronos) – A coalition of federal unions has asked Democratic leaders to continue fighting against cuts to “crucial public services,” even if this risks leading to a shutdown and, as the White House threatens, mass layoffs. In a letter sent to Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, who are meeting Donald Trump at the White House today, the unions are asking to reject any proposal that cuts healthcare, pensions and welfare, veterans’ assistance, and scientific agencies, Politico reports today.
“We are directly impacted by the shutdown; our members will not be able to work, be paid, or carry out their mission to protect Americans – the letter states, referring to the fact that if a temporary spending measure is not approved by tomorrow midnight, hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be suspended without pay from Wednesday – but we believe that the most important thing is to fight against the centralization of executive power and the long-term survival of crucial services provided by the federal government, even if this means allowing the government to temporarily shut down.”
The same appeal comes from California Democrats, the state which, along with its governor Gavin Newsom, has become the symbol of anti-Trump resistance. “We must not kneel before Trump,” declared Xavier Becerra who, like all other Democratic candidates to succeed Newsom, said that Democrats must be ready to shut down the government if they do not obtain concessions from Republicans on the healthcare front.
