For Immediate Release
November 13, 2025
Contact: Communications Director Nikki Gamer | Cell #: (978) 884-0003 | gamer@afsa.org

Washington, D.C. – AFSA welcomes the end of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history and applauds Congress for reaching a resolution that gets federal employees paid and back to work.

We’re especially gratified that the Continuing Resolution guarantees back pay and halts the implementation of Foreign Service layoffs issued on July 11. These provisions reflect AFSA’s consistent advocacy for the Foreign Service workforce, and we thank the members of Congress who ensured these protections were included. In the coming days, as the government works to implement the Continuing Resolution, AFSA will advocate for clarity, fairness, and continued support for every member affected.

But the damage is real. For more than 40 days, dedicated public servants went unpaid and critical work stalled. As one Foreign Service member told us: “Our competitors take every shutdown as an opportunity to demonstrate the lack of American resolve and reliability.”

America cannot afford to let political dysfunction weaken its diplomatic corps. AFSA will continue to advocate for stability, respect, and support for the professionals who serve our nation on the front lines of foreign policy.

To read about the shutdown’s impacts on America’s diplomacy, click here.

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) is the professional association and labor union of the men and women of the United States Foreign Service.