Democrats faced internal strain Monday as the federal employee union AFGE urged them to accept a Republican-backed “clean” funding bill to end the four-week government shutdown.

While party leaders like Sen. Dick Durbin and Sen. Chuck Schumer resisted immediate concessions, the union’s stance intensified pressure amid growing hardships for federal workers, military members, and benefit recipients.

Some Democrats, such as Sen. Mark Warner, signaled caution as frustrations mounted across both parties.

Republicans pointed to the union’s plea as evidence Democrats should relent, though they remain divided on how to ease specific shutdown impacts, Politico has reported.

Despite the tension, Democrats largely maintained their strategy of blaming President Trump for the stalemate as he traveled abroad.