Federal shutdown update

Oct. 7, 2025

Your voices made the difference. 

After our continued pressure from MAPE members and leaders, and a planned media campaign, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) has delayed the layoffs at Disability Determination Services (DDS) until Oct. 27. MMB cited additional federal funding as the reason, but make no mistake: this delay happened because you stood up, spoke out and refused to accept the state’s inaction. 
  
This move keeps Minnesota in line with every other state in the country that continues to process disability determinations during the federal shutdown. More importantly, it allows our DDS members to keep serving thousands of Minnesotans who rely on them for life-changing benefits. 

Because of this development, Wednesday’s DDS Solidarity Rally is canceled, but our work continues. The federal shutdown still threatens jobs and critical public services across multiple state agencies, and we will stay ready to fight back in the workplace, in the media and at the Capitol. 

We’ll keep you updated on what’s next and how you can help protect our coworkers and the Minnesotans we serve. 

In solidarity, 

MAPE Executive Team 

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MAPE colleagues, 

Today is the second day of a federal government shutdown, and we have more information on its impact on some of our MAPE members whose jobs are federally funded, and MAPE’s work to defend those members’ rights. 
 

DDS impact 

MAPE members who work at Disability Determination Services at DEED are currently the most at risk. These workers review and approve disability applications for the Social Security Administration. If they are not at work, disabled and injured Minnesotans will not receive the benefits they are entitle to under the law. Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) has refused to provide these MAPE members with protections that have been provided in every previous federal shutdown. 

MMB is also unwilling to provide stop-gap funding to keep these state employees at work, despite knowing the federal government is required by law to pay back the state. Instead, MMB is simply laying people off. They are refusing to even negotiate an agreement to protect these MAPE members’ health care and conditions returning to work after the shutdown. After intense pressure from MAPE and employees, MMB did agree to fund our colleagues only through Wednesday, Oct. 8. This is not enough.  

More employees at risk 

Other state employees in federally funded positions will also soon be at risk. Right now, Minnesota agencies and colleges are moving funds around to cover the lost funding from the federal government. This is not a permanent solution. MMB is unwilling to negotiate protections for these state workers, too.  

Harm to Minnesotans 

Health care costs are about to skyrocket. Our health care system is on the verge of crisis, and now a government shutdown will harm Minnesotans who are waiting to have their disability claims evaluated and cause even further delays by already overworked staff who are facing layoff next week.  

At the same time, the White House is now threatening to fire tens of thousands of federal workers which could also delay health care and other public services.   

Actions members can take 

MAPE members are tired of being treated as political pawns. We don’t have to stand by while crucial federal government services come to a standstill. 

• Contact Governor Tim Walz, MMB Commissioner Erin Campbell and your state legislators and tell them to protect Minnesota’s DDS employees and commit to stop-gap funding as they have consistently done during a federal shutdown. 

• Contact your U.S. senators and representatives and urge them to: lower health care costs, protect state workers and end this shutdown by funding public services. State agencies are already facing budget shortfalls, and if this shutdown continues, more MAPE members’ jobs will be at risk. 

• If the shutdown continues, join our action next week on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and support DDS employees being laid off and the Minnesotans with disabilities they serve.

We know this is an unsettling time and want you to know you are not alone. We are here with you fighting for accountability, defending your rights and pushing to resolve this shutdown without further harm.  

In solidarity,  

MAPE’s Executive Team 
Megan Dayton, President 
Angela Halseth, Vice President 
Chet Jorgenson, Treasurer 
Kay Pedretti, Secretary Pro Tem
Nicole Juan, Political Council Chair 
Zac Echola, Organizing Council Chair 
Maureen Dunaway, Meet and Confer Speaker