Senators Call for Adherence to Law on Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Workers
U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner, along with other senators, are calling on the administration to adhere to the law regarding back pay for furloughed federal workers. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, signed by President Trump, mandates that furloughed federal employees must receive back pay after a government shutdown. The bipartisan group emphasizes the importance of enforcing this law to ensure that all federal employees, whether excepted or furloughed, are compensated appropriately.
The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 was enacted during the previous government shutdown under President Trump. The law guarantees that federal employees are entitled to retroactive pay in the event of a government shutdown. The senators commend President Trump for signing this bipartisan bill into law, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rights of federal workers to receive back pay.
Despite the Office of Personnel Management's shutdown guidance from September 2025 stating that furloughed federal workers will receive back pay once the government reopens, the senators express concern over the removal of critical guidance on federal employee back pay. This lack of clarity causes unnecessary stress for the nearly 2.2 million federal employees who rely on this compensation. The bipartisan group urges immediate clarification and updates to ensure that furloughed employees will receive the back pay as required by law.
In conclusion, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner, along with other senators, are advocating for the enforcement of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 to guarantee back pay for furloughed federal workers. The bipartisan group emphasizes the importance of clarifying and updating relevant materials to affirm that federal employees will receive the compensation they are entitled to by law. Stay tuned for more updates on this issue.