The Trump administration has warned that furloughed federal workers may not receive back pay after the current government shutdown, a move Democrats say violates federal law.
The Trump administration has warned that federal employees furloughed during the ongoing government shutdown may not receive back pay once funding is restored, sparking outrage from lawmakers.
A memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) claims that a 2019 law guaranteeing retroactive pay does not apply to workers told to stay home. President Trump told reporters that back pay “depends on who we’re talking about” and that some workers “don’t deserve to be taken care of.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected Trump’s stance, insisting, “The law is clear — every single furloughed federal employee is entitled to back pay, period.”
Democrats denounced the OMB’s position as “illegal,” while some Republicans expressed unease. Senator Thom Tillis called it a “strategic mistake,” and Senator John Thune said he expected workers would be paid.
The shutdown, now in its first week, has left about 750,000 employees without pay as budget negotiations remain deadlocked.