5 ms·

With mandatory back pay, isn’t it just a vacation for the furloughed employees ?

dragonwriter 1y ago
Employees working incurs other costs beyond the employees’ compensation, but, yes, assuming the back pay requirement is honored [0], that’s essentially what it is. [0] The White House this week argued that the law that clearly and unambiguously requires this does not in fact do so, and OMB removed references to the law and its requirements from their shutdown guidance to agencies, so I would not count on the Administration honoring it, at least initially.
- georgemcbay 1y ago
  > The White House this week argued that the law that clearly and unambiguously requires this does not in fact do so Interesting side note to this (to point out the hypocrisy and attempts at memory-holing): the law in question is the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 which passed with extremely broad bipartisan support and was signed into law by Trump during his first term.
trenchpilgrim 1y ago
When I go on vacation, I still get paid that pay period, so I don't have to worry about paying the rent/mortgage and utilities in the meantime...
Jtsummers 1y ago
My furloughed gov't friends joke about it that way, but as pointed out by trenchpilgrim, they're not getting paid during this. Their paychecks this week will be for only 7 days of work, 30% short of a normal paycheck, and if the shutdown persists two more weeks, then they will not receive their next paycheck (they will eventually receive the pay, but late).
- Braxton1980 1y ago
  Trump said some workers won't receive back pay and don't deserve to be taken care of
  - Jtsummers 1y ago
    Yes, he's said that, then they backtracked, not sure where they stand now. The law is pretty clear though that back pay is owed to the furloughed workers. EDIT: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/10/tuesday-trump-admin-said-furloughed-feds-were-not-guaranteed-back-pay-wednesday-it-sent-notices-saying-they-were/408681/?oref=ge-home-top-story https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/10/tuesday-trump-admi... That article covers the backtracking. Yesterday no back pay, today they tell the employees they will get back pay.
    - Braxton1980 1y ago
      I don't see how this is clear backtracking. Trump made the comment but only one agency (that I'm aware of) mentioned back pay in the information all federal workers received. The article also states "...the Office of Management and Budget has deleted from its guidance any reference to the 2019 law [requiring back pay after shutdowns] back pay for furloughed federal workers" OMB also issued a press release stating the law only applies to the one shutdown the law was created after. So 1. Trump hasn't backtracked himself. 2. OMB has stated an argument allowing them to challenge the 2019 law. 4. The IRS is just one agency and Trump's comment was clear that only those he believed deserve back pay will get it. There's no contradiction in what the IRS said. Also, A long drawn out executive power court battle will take months to years. People won't be paid unless there is some emergency relief from the courts.
    - Braxton1980 1y ago
      The IRS backtracked and are now saying it's up to the OMB
  - ozgrakkurt 1y ago
    It is incredible how unhinged “businessman” can be

Employees working incurs other costs beyond the employees’ compensation, but, yes, assuming the back pay requirement is honored [0], that’s essentially what it is. [0] The White House this week argued that the law that clearly and unambiguously requires this does not in fact do so, and OMB removed references to the law and its requirements from their shutdown guidance to agencies, so I would not count on the Administration honoring it, at least initially.

georgemcbay 1y ago
> The White House this week argued that the law that clearly and unambiguously requires this does not in fact do so Interesting side note to this (to point out the hypocrisy and attempts at memory-holing): the law in question is the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 which passed with extremely broad bipartisan support and was signed into law by Trump during his first term.

trenchpilgrim 1y ago

When I go on vacation, I still get paid that pay period, so I don't have to worry about paying the rent/mortgage and utilities in the meantime...

Jtsummers 1y ago

My furloughed gov't friends joke about it that way, but as pointed out by trenchpilgrim, they're not getting paid during this. Their paychecks this week will be for only 7 days of work, 30% short of a normal paycheck, and if the shutdown persists two more weeks, then they will not receive their next paycheck (they will eventually receive the pay, but late).

Braxton1980 1y ago
Trump said some workers won't receive back pay and don't deserve to be taken care of
- Jtsummers 1y ago
  Yes, he's said that, then they backtracked, not sure where they stand now. The law is pretty clear though that back pay is owed to the furloughed workers. EDIT: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/10/tuesday-trump-admin-said-furloughed-feds-were-not-guaranteed-back-pay-wednesday-it-sent-notices-saying-they-were/408681/?oref=ge-home-top-story https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/10/tuesday-trump-admi... That article covers the backtracking. Yesterday no back pay, today they tell the employees they will get back pay.
  - Braxton1980 1y ago
    I don't see how this is clear backtracking. Trump made the comment but only one agency (that I'm aware of) mentioned back pay in the information all federal workers received. The article also states "...the Office of Management and Budget has deleted from its guidance any reference to the 2019 law [requiring back pay after shutdowns] back pay for furloughed federal workers" OMB also issued a press release stating the law only applies to the one shutdown the law was created after. So 1. Trump hasn't backtracked himself. 2. OMB has stated an argument allowing them to challenge the 2019 law. 4. The IRS is just one agency and Trump's comment was clear that only those he believed deserve back pay will get it. There's no contradiction in what the IRS said. Also, A long drawn out executive power court battle will take months to years. People won't be paid unless there is some emergency relief from the courts.
  - Braxton1980 1y ago
    The IRS backtracked and are now saying it's up to the OMB
- ozgrakkurt 1y ago
  It is incredible how unhinged “businessman” can be