Shutdown Press Release Template
(Copy/paste into your editor and replace items in brackets.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[MONTH DAY, YEAR]
Contact:
[LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS LEAD NAME], [TITLE], AFGE Local [NUMBER] – [PHONE] | [EMAIL]
AFGE National: Tim Kauffman, Communications – [email protected]
Headline:
Federal Workers in [CITY/REGION] Urge [REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR/REP. LAST NAME] to Keep Government Open and Stop the Chaos
[CITY, STATE]— Members of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local [NUMBER], which represents federal employees at [AGENCY/WORKSITE] in [CITY/STATE/REGION], are calling on [REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR/REP. FULL NAME] and Congress to fully fund the government and avoid a costly shutdown that would lock out workers, delay services, and hurt local families and businesses.
“Shutdowns are a failure and they’re never justified,” said [FIRST LAST], president of AFGE Local [NUMBER]. “Our members have already endured hiring freezes, RIFs, and cuts that have driven up backlogs and workloads. We shouldn’t have to head into the holidays wondering if our paychecks will arrive.”
A shutdown would lock out hundreds of thousands of federal employees from doing their jobs while forcing hundreds of thousands more—like TSA officers, VA caregivers, and Border Patrol agents—to work without pay. That reduces access to services and pulls billions out of local economies.
Key facts:
- The 2018–2019 shutdown cost the U.S. economy about $11 billion then—roughly $13.6 billion in today’s dollars; nearly $3.7 billion of that was permanently lost.
- Every week without paychecks is roughly $5 billion pulled out of family budgets and Main Street.
- Workforce cuts and hiring freezes at agencies like [LOCAL AGENCY/PROGRAM] have already increased backlogs, wait times, and workload for remaining staff in [CITY/REGION]. (Add a local example: “Our SSA field office now books some appointments months out,” or “Our VA clinic is short [X] nurses.”)
“Federal employees are your neighbors and veterans who keep this country running,” said [SECOND QUOTE – e.g., a frontline worker/title]. “We take pride in serving the public. We just need Congress to do its job so we can do ours.”
AFGE Local [NUMBER] is urging [REPRESENTATIVE SENATOR/REP. LAST NAME] to support a bipartisan funding bill that keeps the government open, stabilizes agency staffing, and protects critical services for the public.
Availability: Spokespeople from AFGE Local [NUMBER] and impacted workers at [AGENCY/WORKSITE] are available for interviews. Contact [INSERT CONTACT INFO]
How to Share a Press Release with Local Media
1. Make a local media list
- Write down your local newspaper, TV stations, and radio stations.
- Find a general newsroom email (like news@...) or the assignment desk. That’s enough to get started.
2. Send your press release
- Copy and paste your release into the body of an email.
- Attach it as a Word or PDF too, just in case.
- Subject line ideas:
- “Federal workers in [CITY] urge [REPRESENTATIVE] to prevent shutdown”
- “Shutdown would hurt [CITY] families and small businesses”
3. Add a short note at the top of your email
Example:
Hi, I’m [YOUR NAME], president of AFGE Local [NUMBER].
We’re sharing a statement on how a government shutdown would impact [CITY/COMMUNITY].
We’re available for interviews at [YOUR PHONE/EMAIL].
Please see the full release below.
4. Call the newsroom
- About an hour after sending, call the main number for the paper, TV, or radio.
- Say: “Hi, this is [NAME] from AFGE Local [NUMBER]. I just emailed a press release about how a shutdown would impact [CITY]. I’d be glad to connect you with local federal workers for a quote or interview.”
5. Be ready for questions
- Keep it simple: Who you represent, how many people work in your area, and one or two examples of local impact (like long waits at SSA or TSA officers working without pay).
6. Share everywhere else
- Post the release on your local’s Facebook, Twitter/X, or website.
- Email it to community groups, veterans’ groups, churches, or chambers of commerce.
7. Loop in AFGE National
- Send a copy of what you sent (and any media responses) to Tim Kauffman at [email protected]. He can help pitch your story to more outlets.
That’s it: Send it. Call them. Share it locally. Tell AFGE National.
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