As this edition went to press, the federal shutdown is continuing with no clear end in sight.
The U.S. Senate has held several votes on spending packages, all of which have failed.
Speaker Mike Johnson says he does not plan to reconvene the House until Senate Democrats agree to the Republicans’ “clean” spending bill. Democrats continue to insist that any agreement must include an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that help working families afford coverage.
CSEA supports all sides entering negotiations to both reopen the federal government and ensure that working families do not see their health insurance premiums double because of Congress’ failure to extend these critical tax credits.
The ACA tax credits reduce the cost of health insurance on the marketplace, and the credits are set to expire at the end of this year. The 2026 insurance premiums were due to be released on Nov. 1, which will show massive increases. If the ACA credits are not extended, insurance premiums will skyrocket for millions of Americans, including many CSEA-represented child care providers.
In some places in New York, a family of four receiving insurance through the ACA may see premiums increase by nearly $1,300 per month, or $15,000 per year, in 2026.
Strain on workers
The shutdown will increasingly devastate New Yorkers, who are already bracing for the full impact of federal cuts. As of Nov. 1, SNAP benefits will stall for nearly 3 million people in New York. Other assistance programs, such as WIC and those funded by Head Start, will also see cuts.
The Trump administration has also frozen funding for numerous projects in New York, including those related to infrastructure and clean energy.
The Trump administration has begun permanently terminating thousands of employees from various federal agencies, adding to the disruption caused by the shutdown and increasing uncertainty. While a federal judge temporarily blocked the latest round of layoffs at most agencies, the administration is expected to appeal the district court’s decision.
Federal workers recently missed their first full paycheck, further straining families. Trump warned that there is no guaranteed back pay for federal workers during a government shutdown, saying, “there are some people that don’t deserve to be taken care of.”
This means that the thousands of furloughed — and those who are workig without pay — may not be paid for the length of the shutdown, even after a spending bill is passed. This reverses longstanding federal policy and punishes workers who have no say over the federal budget process.
Fighting back
During the 115th Annual Delegates Meeting’s Minority Caucus session, CSEA members discussed how federal budget cuts will be especially devastating for the communities and services that our union members provide.
Participants heard from Buffalo Common Council Majority Leader Leah M. Halton-Pope, who fired up the session with a compelling message: political action matters – especially now, as the federal government shutdown threatens working people.
Delegates and members echoed Halton-Pope’s urgency, sharing how federal cuts could slow down road repairs, delay hiring, and hurt our communities, a major reason why our union members need to stay loud, visible, and united in the face of these cuts.
CSEA officers from the New York State Thruway Authority and state Department of Transportation locals spoke about how federal cuts and policies affect road maintenance. New federal regulations are also making it more difficult to hire individuals who hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL). The existing law greatly restricts some immigrants’ ability to obtain a CDL, which could lead to a worker shortage. This hits minority communities especially hard, as it limits immigrants’ employment opportunities.
After several speakers expressed concern over current federal policies and regulations, CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan encouraged solidarity in fighting back.
“We all have to come together to fight this,” said Sullivan. “Every single one of us needs to stand up and fight back. When working people are under attack, when our communities are at risk, we have to lock arms and push forward together. We need to take action.”
CSEA encourages members to email their congressional representatives, and tell them to reopen the federal government and extend ACA tax credits! Use the QR code here to take action.
— Mathew L. Cantore