FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2025

Contact: Rich Templin, (850)566-4348, rtemplin@flaflcio.org

Tallahassee – Today, as hundreds of thousands federal workers are forced to stay home from work and are questioning their families’ futures, the Florida AFL-CIO released a statement on the shutdown that will impact almost 100,000 Florida workers and their families. 

Kimberly Holdridge, President of the Florida AFL-CIO said, “Floridians need to know that this shutdown is all about devastating cuts to healthcare access in order to provide tax cuts for the richest, most powerful individuals and corporations in America.  As millions of our most vulnerable lose healthcare, a basic human right, mansions will be built, mega yachts will be purchased, and the unjust wealth gap will explode.  That is what this shutdown is all about.  It is not about politics or parties; it is about people.  Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies can end this now by allowing congressional leaders to negotiate and return basic healthcare access to everyday Americans.”  President Holdridge also said, “our hearts go out to all the workers who are devastated that they can’t do their jobs and to the Floridians who rely on their service.  We will stand with them and support them every step of the way.” 

This shutdown will lock out hundreds of thousands of federal employees from doing their jobs while forcing hundreds of thousands of essential workers—like TSA officers, VA caregivers, and Border Patrol agents—to work without pay. That reduces access to services and pulls billions out of local economies.

The Florida AFL-CIO will be mobilizing its 1.3 million union members, retirees and their families to flood congress with calls and emails demanding that Republicans in Congress step away from extremist Trump and negotiate for the American people.  Hundreds of thousands of worker’s jobs and access to healthcare for millions is on the line.