Lawmakers Launch Caucus to Advocate for Federal Government Workers

A group of Democratic lawmakers have launched the Federal Workforce Caucus, a group designed to strengthen support and provide protection for federal government employees.

U.S. Representative James Walkinshaw, co-chair and founder of the Caucus, was among the legislators who announced the formation of the new alliance, along with U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer and Sen. Chris Van Hollen.

In a statement, Walkinshaw expressed his pride in leading “this effort to advocate for our dedicated federal workers and the good government values they uphold.”

The new Federal Workforce Caucus “will be on the front lines,” Walkinshaw added, “defending merit-based public service and advancing policies to strengthen recruitment and retention, boost morale, and modernize pay and professional development. We will work every day to ensure government delivers world-class services for all Americans.”

According to the statement issued by Walkinshaw’s office, the Federal Workforce Caucus will serve as a forum for members to:

• Support and strengthen the federal civilian workforce and the merit-based civil service system so that it can continue to deliver for American families and businesses;
• Protect the integrity and nonpartisan character of federal employment;
• Advance policies that improve recruitment, retention and workforce morale across federal agencies;
• Highlight stories that show how government programs and workers improve the lives of the American public; and
• Develop and advance data-informed policies that encourage modernization and innovative practices across the federal workforce in areas such as pay competitiveness, workforce performance optimization and professional development;
• Facilitate dialogue among Members of Congress, former and current federal employees, organizations and unions representing federal employees, and subject-matter experts to inform efforts to modernize the federal government and attract the workforce needed to deliver for Americans.

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) was among the organizations joining lawmakers to announce the launch of the Federal Workforce Caucus. NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald applauded the group’s efforts “to highlight the work and challenges facing federal workers” nationwide.

“ … We appreciate the dedicated effort that this caucus will make to strengthen the nonpartisan civil service and ensure that federal employees are treated with dignity and respect,” Greenwald said in a statement, “so they can continue to provide the critical services the American people rely on.”