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A federal workers union is suing the Trump administration for inserting language into Department of Education employees' out-of-office email messages blaming Democrats for the government shutdown.

"Forcing civil servants to speak on behalf of the political leadership's partisan agenda is a blatant violation of federal employees' First Amendment rights," said the complaint, which was filed by the American Federation of Government Employees in federal district court in Washington, D.C., on Friday.

The head of the Postal Service’s regulatory agency is stepping down, after challenging some of the more controversial parts of a 10-year USPS reform plan.

Michael Kubayanda, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, is leaving the agency, after serving for more than six years.

Kubayanda’s term lasts through November 2026, but he told Federal News Network that he’s stepping down from the agency “completely on my own accord.”

Kubayanda led the regulatory agency at a time when its role was repeatedly questioned by the officials it was tasked with overseeing. He said the regulatory agency improved its data analytics capabilities during his tenure, and put “sensible pressure on the Postal Service to do a better job” through its advisory opinions. He noted that the commission has been addressing the concerns of policymakers and citizens about service in rural areas in particular.

Democratic and Republican leaders remain far apart on how to end the partial shutdown of the US government as another day of voting approaches on Monday.

In separate Sunday interviews with NBC's Meet the Press, the House's top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries and its Republican leader Mike Johnson each blamed the other's party for the continued standoff, which will head to day five on Monday.

The key dividing issue has been healthcare. Democrats want to ensure health insurance subsidies for those with low-income do not expire and aim to reverse cuts to the Medicaid health programme.