In brief
The Trump administration has indicated that many furloughed federal workers may not receive back pay after the ongoing government shutdown, contravening a 2019 law aimed at ensuring such compensation. Lawmakers, including House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries, assert that all furloughed workers are entitled to back pay, while OMB assessments introduce confusion regarding which employees qualify for retroactive compensation. As divisions grow between parties over the direction of funding resolutions, the debate highlights the precarious situation of federal employees caught in the legislative crossfire.
The Trump administration is warning federal workers furloughed in the government shutdown that they may not get back pay once the funding impasse ends, which some lawmakers are decrying as illegal.A memo prepared by the Office of Management and Budget states that a 2019 law guaranteeing retroactive pay does not apply to employees asked not to report to work. Trump mentioned that back pay “depends on who we're talking about” and suggested some workers “don’t deserve to be taken care of.” About 750,000 employees are currently missing regular pay as the shutdown nears the end of its first week.Top Democrats, such as House Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, affirm that all furloughed federal workers are entitled to back pay. The memo, which surfaced recently, explains that essential workers, like air traffic controllers, must be compensated, but it argues that the government is not obligated to pay furloughed workers retroactively. The memo references a 2019 law designed to clarify compensation practices during government shutdowns, passed after a major shutdown in late 2018.Current shutdown dynamics reflect a standoff between Republicans and Democrats, with attempts to pass resolutions failing on various grounds. Republican leaders express hesitance over the memo's implications, with some, including Senate GOP leaders, anticipating back pay for furloughed employees.This ongoing situation continues to attract scrutiny from both sides of the aisle, highlighting the complexities of congressional negotiations amidst the pressures faced by federal employees.
