As the government shutdown enters its third day, frustration is mounting among federal workers and union leaders who warn that the crisis is not just about politics but about the survival of America’s middle class.
Diana Hendrix Hicks, a Topeka native and National Vice President of AFGE District 9, released a statement on Tuesday condemning Congress and warning of the wider stakes. Hicks, who represents 58 AFGE locals across Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma—including employees at the VA, DOD bases, federal prisons, and USDA—called the shutdown “a national disgrace.”
Background on Hicks
Hicks worked for the VA from 2006 to 2023, serving as President of AFGE Local 906 for 12 years before being elected as District 9 Vice President in 2023. Her region covers tens of thousands of civil servants across federal agencies.
Key Quotes
- “What if the government shutdown isn’t just politics—it’s a calculated plot to privatize America and hand it to the billionaires pulling the strings?”
- “Imagine showing up to protect your country, only to be told: work for free or starve. That’s not service—it’s slavery, and it’s breaking the hearts of veterans, nurses, and everyday heroes who built this nation.”
- “America’s on the brink: one more day, week, or month of this shutdown, and families crumble—mortgages default, food banks empty, and our nation’s backbone snaps. We act now, or we all fall.”
Hicks’ Position
In her statement, Hicks described the shutdown as “a ruthless power grab that treats loyal civil servants like disposable pawns in a billionaire’s game.”
She accused lawmakers of scapegoating Democrats in agency emails, violating the Hatch Act, and undermining collective bargaining rights while federal workers struggle to afford mortgages and food amid rising costs.
“Civil Servants have endured integrity checks, background scrutiny, and unwavering dedication, only to be rewarded with uncertainty,” Hicks said. “This assault on government workers is the first strike in a war on all labor. Privatization for profit will gut us, then target you next—stripping rights, breaking unions, owning everything.”
A Call to Labor
Although federal workers are barred from striking, Hicks issued a broader call for solidarity across the labor movement:
“Teamsters, teachers, electricians, steelworkers, everyone: Shut it down. Hit their pockets like Disney folded under boycotts. Mobilize now, stand united, and show these elites who’s really in charge.”
Hicks ended her statement by urging workers to see the fight as a pivotal moment for the future of labor in America:
“Labor rises—or America falls. Join us, or watch it burn.”
