Trump Administration May Deny Back Pay for Furloughed Workers — Is This Fair?

[Amyouyang]

The U.S. has been in a partial government shutdown since October 1. Now, the Trump administration is considering a major change: denying automatic retroactive pay to federal employees who are furloughed during the shutdown.

What’s Happening:

In the past, furloughed workers always received back pay once the shutdown ended.
A new memo argues that workers may not automatically be guaranteed compensation — Congress would need to explicitly appropriate the funds.
Critics call this unfair and a betrayal of precedent. Supporters say it respects Congress’s spending authority.
Why It Matters:
Federal employees are caught in the middle of political fights. Losing the certainty of back pay could mean missed rent, bills, and major stress for families who have no control over these political battles.

My Take
To me, this feels like a double hit. First, workers are forced to stop working because of politics. Then, they may not even be guaranteed their pay afterward. That shifts the cost of political deadlock onto ordinary families.

While I understand the argument about respecting Congress’s authority over budgets, fairness to workers should come first. People shouldn’t be punished for something they have no control over.

Questions for You
Do you think federal workers should always get back pay after a shutdown?
If you were a furloughed worker, how would this policy make you feel?
What should matter more here — protecting workers, or limiting government spending?

References / Further Reading
Reuters: Trump administration questions automatic back pay for furloughed US employees
AP News: Trump administration threatens no back pay for federal workers in shutdown
Washington Post: Furloughed workers not guaranteed back pay, OMB claims
Politico: White House memo says furloughed workers might not get back pay

👉 That’s my take. What’s yours?

[katiesmuff]

I do have mixed feelings about this. (1) A normal worker in the public sector when he gets laid off or work stoppage for some reason the employer is not obliged to give back pay if they return to work and see no reason why this shouldn't be the same for federal workers. (2) If we can keep this shutdown going long enough and many of the MAGA morons lose their homes, auto's etc because of no paycheck all because refusal of their holy elated god and his tribe of clowns to negotiate medicare and medicaid help to keep payments reasonable for all American citizens (which does not include and never did include illegals as trump is trying to spew). I support this shutdown all the way to the 26 election if necessary.

[Agape93]

Do you think federal workers should always get back pay after a shutdown?
Nope

If you were a furloughed worker, how would this policy make you feel?
Annoyed, but find a better job that isn't threatened twice a year.

What should matter more here — protecting workers, or limiting government spending?
Neither. The main body of civilians that watch their elected officials fucking up yet again, but do nothing to change it next time, should get no help.

[loveslongnails]

This is a no-brainer. Did the workers go out on strike? Did they CHOOSE not to work? Fuck no, the idiots of the GOP caused them not to work. Now the Cheetoh thinks they shouldn't get paid because why -- it was the worker's fault?

It's just another bullshit distraction, unless it happens. Then it's just more Scump bullshit. Are you feeling great yet, America?

[exitseven]

People like thr militsry and Air Traffic controllers who are actually still working and not getting paid should get all their back pay and maybe something extra.

The ones getting a paid vacation should have to collect unemployment like the rest of us.

[MrOracle]

They will. They were NOT furloughed - they are classified as essential workers and are exempt from furloughs.

I'm pretty positive that furloughed workers will all get back pay, except possibly a few who were actively obstructing the administration.

There will be a number of jobs completely eliminated, though. The Biden administration hired 800,000+ workers to make it seem that employment was doing better, but that just massively increased the deficit. Cutting those jobs will save many billions of dollars and they are much better off employed in the private sector, where they are a net positive rather than a net negative.

[exitseven]

@MrOracle Biden hired over a million peole to goose his jobs numbers. There are plenty of do nothing, work from home people.

[Dargil]

Fake News Alert. Get your facts straight.

It is not the Trump Administration. It it is Chuck Schumer, personally.

[captain_voidwalker]

Well outside the military all federal workers are a waste of tax dollars , so fuck em i say fire them all

[RedWine9]

Shocker trump ripping people off who would of thought?

[blackeagle007]

Well that’s who 77million wanted

[seeyounexttuesday]

The federal workers should start getting mad at the democrats.

[blackeagle007]

Fuck no it’s not fair. Working for free? That’s a crime unless you want to volunteer

[qwerty2469]

Yes its fair. Quit. Get a real job. Government jobs are all bullshit

[emeraldsaphire]

I don't care. Get a real job

[Agape93]

Yeap.

[dragoblack]

It's illegal to deny them pay for their work

[noohair]

Life is not fair...