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WASHINGTON – About 350 frontline federal employees from around the country arrived today on Capitol Hill to participate in NTEU’s Legislative Conference and meet with members of Congress about their service to the nation.

The union’s 2025 agenda is focused on protecting the nonpartisan civil service and stopping mass layoffs; providing agencies with adequate resources to get the job done; and ensuring the skilled federal workforce has fair pay and benefits.

NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald welcomed the spirited group to Washington, acknowledging the unprecedented threats to federal employees that continue to come straight from the White House.

“We’re advocating for ourselves, our jobs, and the vital services we provide the American public,” Greenwald said. “We’re committing ourselves to remain in this fight. We will not back down from our oath to the Constitution and the American people.”

NTEU’s Legislative Conference allows frontline federal employees the opportunity to visit their representatives in Washington, who have the Constitutional power to create and fund federal agencies, oversee agency operations and determine federal pay and benefits.

“Let them know the actions of the administration are causing chaos in federal agencies and how it affects you, your colleagues, your family at home and the people in their districts and states,” Greenwald said.

Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., addressed the conference during the opening session and said he will continue fighting against the administration’s cuts to agency staffing levels.

“I believe the best of America is represented by the people that are willing to work for America,” Gallego said. “And when you try to destroy that workforce, you’re basically tearing apart the fabric of our country because these are dedicated, dedicated, dedicated people.”

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., a lead sponsor of legislation to protect the nonpartisan civil service, told the union members that their work for the American people is critical.

“Our democracy can’t survive without the work that you do,” Fitzpatrick said. “You are the quiet faces behind the scenes that are doing all the nuts and bolts work to keep our government and our democracy running.”

NTEU’s advocacy work on Capitol Hill is but one part of the union’s overall strategy to defend civil servants and their valuable work. The union has filed multiple lawsuits against the administration’s unconstitutional actions, and we are taking bold administrative steps to enforce the terms of our legally negotiated contracts.

“We must fight with every breath and every tool we have—on Capitol Hill, in our agencies, and in the courts—to defend our government and our members from illegal actions,” Greenwald said.               

NTEU represents employees in 37 federal agencies and offices.