Washington, October 8(HS): The White House has signalled that some federal employees furloughed during the ongoing government shutdown may not receive back pay once the funding impasse ends — a move many lawmakers have condemned as unlawful.
A memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) argues that a 2019 law guaranteeing retroactive pay after shutdowns does not apply to employees who have been instructed to stay home. About 750,000 workers are currently without pay as the shutdown enters its second week.
President Donald Trump told reporters that whether workers would be compensated “depends on who we’re talking about,” adding that some “don’t deserve to be taken care of.” The comments drew immediate backlash from Democrats and even concern from Republican lawmakers.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries insisted, “The law is clear — every furloughed federal employee is entitled to back pay, period.” Senator Mark Warner of Virginia called the OMB’s stance “totally illegal” and accused Director Russ Vought of trying to “traumatize hardworking public servants.”Some Republicans also voiced skepticism.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune said he expected all furloughed workers to be compensated, while Senator Thom Tillis warned it was a “strategic mistake” to suggest otherwise during the budget standoff.The 2019 law — signed by Trump himself during his first term after the record 35-day shutdown — requires the government to pay all employees, whether working or furloughed, once funding resumes.
However, the new OMB analysis challenges that interpretation, saying only essential workers mandated to work are guaranteed retroactive wages.
Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans in Congress remain at an impasse over reopening the government. Democrats want any resolution to address health care funding, while Republicans insist on passing what they call a “clean” budget bill.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said legal reviews questioning the back-pay requirement could pressure Democrats to accept the Republican proposal. Ironically, congressional records show Johnson supported the very 2019 legislation he now questions.With hundreds of thousands of families missing paychecks, the administration’s stance further deepens the political and legal uncertainty surrounding one of the most contentious shutdowns in years.
White House Says Some Furloughed Workers May Not Get Back Pay After Shutdown
Dateline: Washington, Wednesday, October 8, 2025The Trump administration has warned that many federal employees sent home during the ongoing government shutdown may not be guaranteed back pay once the funding standoff ends — prompting an uproar from lawmakers who call the move unlawful.
A memo from the Office of Management and Budget argues that a 2019 law requiring retroactive pay does not apply to “nonessential” workers who were told not to report to work. Roughly 750,000 federal employees are currently without pay.
President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday that whether back pay is issued “depends on who we’re talking about” and said some workers “don’t deserve to be taken care of.”Democrats swiftly denounced the suggestion.
“The law is clear — every single furloughed federal employee is entitled to back pay, period,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia called the memo “totally illegal,” accusing OMB Director Russ Vought of attempting to “traumatize” federal workers.Even some Republicans expressed doubt.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune said he expected furloughed employees to be repaid, while Senator Thom Tillis labelled the talk of denying pay a “strategic mistake.”
The 2019 law, enacted after the record 35-day shutdown, explicitly guarantees that both working and furloughed employees receive compensation once government funding resumes. But OMB now argues the statute covers only essential workers required to stay on duty.
As the shutdown — which began October 1 — stretches into its second week, Congress remains gridlocked. Republicans are demanding a “clean” budget bill, while Democrats insist on adding provisions for healthcare funding.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who voted for the 2019 back-pay law, has not yet conferred with the White House. He said new “legal analysis” could influence how Congress resolves the issue.The dispute over back pay adds fresh tension to an already bitter budget fight, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers facing mounting financial strain with no clear end in sight.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
