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No Kings, No Pawns: Caregivers Demand Economic and Political Accountability During the Shutdown

  • Writer: Mark Fukae
    Mark Fukae
  • 12 minutes ago
  • 3 min read
An infographic with a teal background. On the right, a large yellow circle contains the title in green text: "No Kings, No Pawns: Why the Care Workforce is Demanding Economic and Political Accountability During the Shutdown." Below the circle, a quote in white text reads: "'Families are not pawns. Caregiver rights are economic necessities.'" to the left of a large white quotation mark. In the bottom right corner, a small circular logo for "Professionals Who Care" is visible. On the left side of the infographic, there are abstract, geometric patterns in shades of blue and purple, including what appears to be a fragmented cube, gears, and a grid.
The message from the protests is clear: Demand the AUTO-CR and the Universal Caregiver Bill of Rights. Caregivers reject the 'No Kings, No Pawns' dysfunction that makes care an unbudgeted economic risk.

The federal shutdown is not an abstraction-it’s a lived crisis and a direct threat to the American workforce. For the 29+ million employed caregivers in America, every day of political gridlock means another day of impossible choices: Do I pay for my parent’s medication or my child’s groceries? Do I risk my job to provide care, or risk my loved one’s health to keep working?


On October 18, millions of Americans joined the "No Kings" protests, demanding democracy over dysfunction. Caregivers were on the front lines-parents with strollers, spouses of veterans, and adult children supporting aging parents. Their unified message was clear: Families are not pawns.


Caregiver Rights Are Economic Necessities


At Professionals Who Care (PWC), we understand that workplace protections and caregiver rights are not just moral imperatives-they are economic necessities. When political chaos destabilizes the care continuum, it creates an unbudgeted retention crisis that forces skilled employees out of the workforce, directly impacting your organization's bottom line.

The data confirms the economic case for stability:

  • The Colorado Caregiver Accommodations and Rights Enhancement (CARE) Act provides a state model that, if adopted nationally, shows the massive potential for cost savings. The economic analysis projects $17.4M–$69.4M in potential annual statewide employer savings from reduced turnover.

  • The continued threat of a shutdown jeopardizes these workforce gains, proving that local efforts are fragile without federal guardrails.


The Blueprint for Durable Governance


We are calling for action that guarantees dignity, predictability, and fairness across the caregiving continuum. PWC endorses a triad of systemic reforms to provide both political and economic accountability:

  1. Political Stability: The Automatic Continuing Resolution (AUTO-CR)

    • This measure prevents future shutdowns by automatically funding the government at current levels, ensuring essential services like telehealth, Medicaid reimbursements, and federal caregiver supports can never again be used as political weapons.

  2. Workplace Stability: The Universal Caregiver Bill of Rights

    • This framework guarantees economic security, mandating reasonable workplace accommodations and protecting employees from discrimination or retaliation based on their caregiving status.

  3. Systemic Support: Federal CARE Act & Support for the Colorado CARE Act

    • We advocate for the codification of workplace protections and systemic support for caregivers, building on successful models like the Colorado CARE Act that reduce employee turnover and stabilize the workforce.


Join the Demand for Action


The "No Kings, No Pawns" movement proves that the care workforce will not be sidelined.

You cannot manage your workforce risk until Congress ends the political risk.


Read the full analysis in the latest installment of Our Lives on Hold to understand the legislative path forward:


Join us. Share your story. Add your voice. Together, we can prove that care is essential—and that caregivers will not be sidelined.


PWC is committed to advancing policies that ensure stability for the care workforce and reduce unbudgeted risks for employers.


References & Citations

  • NBC News (Oct 15, 2025) - “Government shutdown 2025: 737,000 federal workers remain unpaid, with thousands facing permanent layoffs.”

  • CNN Politics (Oct 15, 2025) - “Millions of moms and young kids could lose WIC food assistance within weeks amid shutdown.”

  • CBS News (Oct 18, 2025) - “Crowds gather at anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ rallies across the U.S., with more than 2,700 demonstrations planned coast to coast.”

  • USA Today (Oct 18, 2025) - “‘No Kings’ protests nationwide expected to be boisterous, joyful.”

  • Politico (Oct 15, 2025) - “U.S. considers doubling aid to Argentina to $40B, even as American families ration food and medicine.”

  • The Hill (Oct 16, 2025) - “Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene opposes $40B aid to Argentina amid U.S. struggles.”

  • Professionals Who Care (Oct 2025) - “Advocacy in Action: Why Investing in Caregivers is Smart Business.”

  • Congressional Research Service (2025) - “Automatic Continuing Resolution (AUTO-CR): Overview and Legislative Proposals.”

  • Universal Caregiver Bill of Rights (2025) - Internal policy framework developed by Professionals Who Care and CASI.

 
 
 

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