WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined 25 colleagues to establish the Federal Workforce Caucus. Members of the caucus will work to protect federal workers and strengthen our merit-based federal civil service so dedicated public servants can deliver for the American people without political interference.
“Colorado is home to more than 60,000 public servants who work for government agencies,” said Hickenlooper. “This caucus will help ensure they can continue to work hard each day to provide essential services to help Coloradans thrive.”
Members of the caucus will work to:
- Strengthen the federal civilian workforce and the merit-based civil service system.
- Protect the integrity 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.
- Develop and advance policies that encourage modernization and innovative practices across the federal workforce.
- Facilitate dialogue among Members of Congress, former and current federal employees, organizations, and unions representing federal employees, and subject-matter experts.
Hickenlooper has been a longtime advocate for workforce development and apprenticeship programs. As governor, he jumpstarted CareerWise Colorado, a nonprofit designed to create statewide apprenticeship opportunities to prepare students for high-paying, competitive jobs at Colorado companies. He is the Ranking Member of the Employment & Workplace Safety Subcommittee for the Senate HELP Committee.
Hickenlooper has also fought against the Trump admin’s reckless treatment of federal workers. He introduced legislation to protect federal worker unions. He also called out the Trump admin’s mass firings of federal workers in Colorado.
“The Trump administration’s relentless attacks on our federal workers are meant to scare those who serve the American people into serving a president’s political agenda. Ripping up federal workers’ union contracts and pushing experts out of their jobs all across the country has made it harder for workers to deliver the essential services we all rely on. As the White House escalates its attacks, we commend Senator Van Hollen and members of the new Federal Workforce Caucus for joining us in the fight to protect federal workers and the critical services they provide,” said Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO President.
“Over the past year, people and communities have protested, lawyers have sued, and courts have issued orders to protect our civil servants. It is an honor today to mark the establishment of a bipartisan, bicameral congressional caucus to support the people who work for all us – our nonpartisan, merit-based civil service. The Congressional Federal Workforce Caucus could not come at a more pivotal time. As the Trump-Vance administration and its allies escalate threats to our nation’s elections, our nation’s communities, and our nation’s civil servants, it is time to use all tools our democracy provides to push back and move forward. We are grateful to these lawmakers for taking an important step to protect and strengthen the civil service not just for today, but for the ability to build the people-centered government we all will need in the future,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward.
###