2025-10-29
As the federal government shutdown continues into its 27th day, more than a million government workers are facing another payday without a paycheck.
Many families are now spending less and preparing for the possibility that the shutdown could last even longer.
A main concern for these workers is whether they will receive all the pay they missed once the government reopens. According to legal experts, the answer is yes: federal employees are supposed to get full back pay after the shutdown ends.
This assurance comes from the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019. This law was created after the long government shutdown of 2018-2019.
It clearly says that any federal worker—whether furloughed (not working) or “excepted” (still working)—must receive pay for every day the government was closed. The law guarantees that workers will be paid at their normal rate, including for any work done during the shutdown.
Despite what the law says, some recent messages from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have caused confusion. In a draft memo, OMB suggested that furloughed workers might not be promised back pay, which goes against both the law and previous practice.
President Donald Trump also added to the uncertainty by saying, “I would say it depends on who we’re talking about,” when asked if furloughed employees would receive retroactive pay.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) previously confirmed that both groups of workers would be paid as soon as possible after the shutdown, no matter the regular pay schedule.
However, a recent update to OPM’s website changed this, now only promising that employees who worked during the shutdown will get their overtime or extra pay after funding resumes.
In summary, while the law says all federal employees should get back pay after a shutdown, mixed messages from officials have created some doubt.
Legal experts still insist that, based on the law, workers should receive the pay they are owed once the government reopens.
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Read next: Minimum Wage Increase in 2025: States Set to Benefit from New Rates
Do Federal Employees Get Back Pay After a Government Shutdown?
As the federal government shutdown continues into its 27th day, more than a million government workers are facing another payday without a paycheck.
Many families are now spending less and preparing for the possibility that the shutdown could last even longer.
A main concern for these workers is whether they will receive all the pay they missed once the government reopens. According to legal experts, the answer is yes: federal employees are supposed to get full back pay after the shutdown ends.
This assurance comes from the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019. This law was created after the long government shutdown of 2018-2019.
It clearly says that any federal worker—whether furloughed (not working) or “excepted” (still working)—must receive pay for every day the government was closed. The law guarantees that workers will be paid at their normal rate, including for any work done during the shutdown.
Despite what the law says, some recent messages from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have caused confusion. In a draft memo, OMB suggested that furloughed workers might not be promised back pay, which goes against both the law and previous practice.
President Donald Trump also added to the uncertainty by saying, “I would say it depends on who we’re talking about,” when asked if furloughed employees would receive retroactive pay.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) previously confirmed that both groups of workers would be paid as soon as possible after the shutdown, no matter the regular pay schedule.
However, a recent update to OPM’s website changed this, now only promising that employees who worked during the shutdown will get their overtime or extra pay after funding resumes.
In summary, while the law says all federal employees should get back pay after a shutdown, mixed messages from officials have created some doubt.
Legal experts still insist that, based on the law, workers should receive the pay they are owed once the government reopens.
-
Read next: Minimum Wage Increase in 2025: States Set to Benefit from New Rates
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