During Shutdown Stalemate, Rep. Summer Lee Meets with Furloughed IRS Workers, Recommits to Workers’ Rights
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 21, 2025 — Yesterday, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) met with members of local Chapter 34 of the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU) to discuss the ongoing effects of the Republican-induced government shutdown on their livelihoods, families, and communities. During the shutdown, roughly 250 of more than 500 members NTEU represents have been furloughed without pay, creating significant financial hardship and a lapse in services for taxpayers. At the national level, the IRS reports that approximately 34,000 employees—about half its workforce—are now on furlough due to the funding lapse and that most operations are essentially paused.
“Even before the Republican shutdown, this has been a traumatic year for federal workers. The same workers who have been vilified and targeted since January are now at risk of being denied the paychecks they earned. The Trump Administration's mass firings and heartless dismantling of federal agencies have already forced federal workers to be overworked and underpaid, and now they have to deal with the anxiety of not knowing how to pay their bills. The people Republicans are hurting are not in some far-off place, they are our neighbors in Western PA. There is an urgent need for a resolution that puts people before politics. Republicans must reopen the government immediately and end their incessant attacks on workers,” said Rep. Lee. “I’m immensely grateful to the federal workers who had the courage to share their experiences and the impact on them and their communities. As Republicans refuse to come to the negotiating table and reopen the government, my team and I remain committed to providing as much support to federal workers and everyone impacted by this shutdown.”
In a heartfelt and candid conversation, IRS workers expressed frustrations at the administration’s reduction in force during the shutdown and earlier this year, sharing personal stories of economic strain. The meeting also highlighted the wider consequences of the furloughs. With Taxpayer Advocates put on leave, key IRS services have been delayed or suspended, causing taxpayers and businesses to face significant disruptions. This includes fewer employees, closed walk-in offices, longer wait times, backlogged filings, and unaddressed issues for taxpayers.
“This administration continues to wage war against unions and workers, and every day that this shutdown continues is another day that our people and our economy suffer,” said NTEU Chapter 34 President Charleen Stephansky. “We’re asking for fairness and to be able to do our jobs, provide for our families, and contribute to our nation’s tax system. NTEU members and federal workers across the country deserve to keep their jobs and support themselves without fear of retaliation.”
Congresswoman Lee, who has been a long-time advocate for workers’ rights, has fiercely opposed the mass firings of federal workers and attacks on unions.
Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.4 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 3,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.