Major Banks Join Union To End Shutdown

Once again, we’re talking about the ongoing government shutdown. And just a day after the largest government-employee union called on the far-Left leaders in Congress to end the shutdown, banks and credit unions are applying the same pressure. Will the Democrat and Republican leaders come together to resolve the shutdown anytime soon?

One of the loudest financial voices today was the American Bankers Association, which lobbies for the banking industry and comprises roughly 95% of banks in the U.S., issued a statement: “We urge lawmakers to pass a clean continuing resolution and resolve their policy differences with the government open and functioning.”

If this verbiage sounds familiar, you’ll remember that it echoes American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley’s call “to pass a clean continuing resolution” and reopen the government. So two powerful groups are starting to exert pressure on Congress.

My brother, ACLJ Executive Director Jordan Sekulow, explained how the banks have been helping some people during the shutdown.

If you logged into your bank account or checking account kind of right when the shutdown began, or a couple of days later, many banks . . . [said], If you’re going to experience hardship because of payments being delayed or your salary being delayed, contact us. The banks are now moving on it – maybe they can do that for a paycheck or two. But if they’re starting to cover two months of paychecks, and that means people’s mortgage payments and car payments and much bigger bills than just what they talk about, like the essentials, the monthly stuff, that then puts strain on the banking system right for all these federal employees who are not getting paid. So the banks actually step up, and in this scenario, do the right thing.

But they are doing what they can do for a temporary time. When it starts extending into payment number two, and month number two, and mortgage payment two, and car payment two, that puts a lot of strain on the banking industry. And guess who that starts affecting then? Not just us, not just the people who aren’t getting paid – it’s affecting all of us, right? Because your bank is under pressure as well.

And we don’t want a banking crisis amid the government shutdown. The Independent Community Bankers of America warned of the ongoing economic dangers of the shutdown: “While the nation’s community banks continue working every day to support economic growth in the local communities they serve, the ongoing government shutdown threatens to harm economic growth and Main Street economies.” So that potential economic pitfall also looms as the shutdown drags on.

And let’s not forget that the banks and unions are sending the same message to the far-Left leaders of Congress: You’re primarily hurting the voting bloc that supports you. You need to pick a different battle and live to fight another day.

On today’s broadcast, Jordan also shared about the ACLJ’s involvement at this week’s CPAC summit in Washington, D.C., titled “Ending Christian Persecution.” The ACLJ is a co-sponsor of the two-day event, which will focus on worldwide religious persecution – an event at which Jordan will be speaking.

While in D.C., our team will also participate in a roundtable discussion at the White House on efforts to codify the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to curb Christian targeting in America. (The ACLJ has been a staunch supporter of President Trump’s Executive order titled “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias.)

Today’s Sekulow broadcast included a full analysis of the banks calling on Congress to end the government shutdown soon. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions Ric Grenell reacted to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement that he is mulling a 2026 presidential run.

Watch the full broadcast below: