The US government shutdown entered its 27th day yesterday, making it the second-longest funding lapse in American history, with no sign of an imminent deal between Democrats and Republicans.
The American Federation of Government Employees, National President Everett Kelley said, it is time for Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution, which would extend the previous funding agreement with no changes.
No half measures, and no gamesmanship. He added, put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay.
The union representing the largest share of US government workers called for Congress to pass a short-term funding bill to reopen the government, as hundreds of thousands of federal employees are forced to stay home without pay due to the ongoing shutdown.
Federal employees missed their first full paycheck at the end of last week. Essential government functions, including air traffic control, border protection and federal law enforcement, have continued to operate, though workers in these sectors are working without pay.
National parks, museums and research facilities, meanwhile, have either closed or scaled back operations.