The Trump administration has stirred controversy by indicating that federal workers furloughed during the ongoing government shutdown might not be entitled to back pay once funding is restored. This warning arises from a memo prepared by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), stating that a 2019 law meant to guarantee retroactive pay does not apply to employees who have been temporarily sidelined.
On October 7th, President Trump characterized the scenario stating that entitlement to back pay 'depends on who we're talking about' and suggested that some workers 'don't deserve to be taken care of.' The current shutdown, which started on October 1, has already affected approximately 750,000 employees who are not receiving their regular salaries.
The law that the OMB memo references was established after the previous extended shutdown, affirming the right to pay for furloughed and essential workers during a lapse in government funding. Top-ranking Democrat in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, emphasized that the law clearly mandates back pay for all furloughed workers.
Democratic lawmakers have broadly criticized the OMB memo, labeling it illegal and asserting that it could cause further distress among federal employees already struggling due to the shutdown. The memo specifies that while essential employees expected to work will be compensated, those furloughed may not be guaranteed such payments.
Calls for a resolution to the budget impasse remain unresolved, with both parties unable to reach an agreement despite multiple voting attempts. Opposition to Trump's stance is not only from Democrats; some Republicans have expressed skepticism regarding the administration's legal justification for withholding back pay from furloughed workers, raising alarms about the implications for federal employees nationwide.
On October 7th, President Trump characterized the scenario stating that entitlement to back pay 'depends on who we're talking about' and suggested that some workers 'don't deserve to be taken care of.' The current shutdown, which started on October 1, has already affected approximately 750,000 employees who are not receiving their regular salaries.
The law that the OMB memo references was established after the previous extended shutdown, affirming the right to pay for furloughed and essential workers during a lapse in government funding. Top-ranking Democrat in the House, Hakeem Jeffries, emphasized that the law clearly mandates back pay for all furloughed workers.
Democratic lawmakers have broadly criticized the OMB memo, labeling it illegal and asserting that it could cause further distress among federal employees already struggling due to the shutdown. The memo specifies that while essential employees expected to work will be compensated, those furloughed may not be guaranteed such payments.
Calls for a resolution to the budget impasse remain unresolved, with both parties unable to reach an agreement despite multiple voting attempts. Opposition to Trump's stance is not only from Democrats; some Republicans have expressed skepticism regarding the administration's legal justification for withholding back pay from furloughed workers, raising alarms about the implications for federal employees nationwide.
