A government shutdown throws federal workers' pay into uncertainty—and now the White House is stirring the pot by questioning whether furloughed employees should actually be compensated for the days they don’t work. A draft memo circulating within the White House suggests that federal workers placed on furlough might not receive back pay for the shutdown period, according to an administration official who spoke with CNN. This interpretation marks a sharp departure from long-standing assumptions and is poised to ignite intense debate on Capitol Hill and among the millions of government employees affected.
The memo itself has not been made available to CNN, so the extent to which this idea is being seriously pursued remains unclear. AXIOS was the first to bring this draft memo to public attention. The updated document from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget argues that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA)—a law designed to ensure furloughed workers receive back pay—is either being misunderstood or fundamentally flawed, the official confirmed.
GEFTA has traditionally been seen as solid protection for federal employees, guaranteeing they would be reimbursed after shutdowns. Signed into law by President Donald Trump during his first term, it followed the historic 35-day shutdown that ended in January 2019. Before GEFTA, Congress would usually approve back pay for furloughed workers only after funding bills passed to reopen the government, leaving employees in a precarious position without certainty.
This time, the stakes are huge: the Congressional Budget Office estimates around 750,000 federal workers will be furloughed during the current shutdown, with even more employees required to work without pay while the stalemate drags on. Many government workers will start feeling the financial crunch this week when their paychecks arrive smaller than usual—missing pay for the first several days of October—and, for many, this partial payment will be their last until the shutdown concludes.
What makes the draft memo especially provocative is that it appears to run counter to President Trump’s recent public statements. Over the weekend, while marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy at one of the nation’s largest naval bases, Trump reassured military personnel they would not suffer delayed pay despite the ongoing shutdown. "I want you to know that despite the current Democrat-induced shutdown, we will get our service members every last penny," he told a crowd in Norfolk, Virginia. "Do not worry about it. It’s all coming, it’s coming, and even more."
He further pledged support for "across-the-board pay raises for every sailor and service member in the United States Armed Forces."
The ambiguity emerging from the draft memo has drawn swift criticism from labor groups. The American Federation of Government Employees pointed out that the memo contradicts official guidance recently issued by the White House Office of Personnel Management. According to those instructions, once appropriations resume, furloughed employees are to receive retroactive pay for the shutdown period at the earliest possible date, irrespective of the usual payroll timings.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Is this reinterpretation a strategic move by the administration to shift financial pressure or a genuine legal reevaluation? Are furloughed workers being treated fairly, or is this negotiation tactic crossing a line? These questions challenge long-held norms and invite fierce debate about the rights of government employees during crises.
What do you think—is back pay a non-negotiable promise, or is there room to reconsider how shutdowns impact government workers? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.
