Trump's Threat to Block Back Payments for Federal Workers

Can Trump Block Back Pay for Federal Employees?

President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of blocking some federal employees' back pay following the reopening of the government.

Trump's Statements

In a press conference at the White House, Trump stated, “It really depends on who you’re talking about, but we will take care of most of our employees. There are really some people who don’t deserve to be taken care of, and we will look at them differently.”

Budget Office and Legal Arguments

The White House Budget Office, led by Russell Vought, prepared a memo stating that federal employees do not have a guarantee of compensation during the shutdown period. This memo presents a legal argument regarding a 2019 law, indicating that paid employees would only be able to receive payments if the legislation to end the shutdown explicitly allocated funding.

Congress's Reaction and Legal Regulations

In 2019, Congress had processed back pay before automating the processes. However, a few days later, a change in the law clearly stated that the approval of legislation to end the shutdown was necessary. This situation may further increase tensions between the White House and Democrats. Democratic Senator Patty Murray from Washington stated that the law explicitly ensures federal employees' right to receive back pay.

Intra-Party and Public Reactions

Murray described this situation as “another baseless attempt to intimidate federal employees.” There were also reactions from Republicans; Senate Budget Committee Chair Susan Collins noted that Congress passed laws requiring all employees to receive their back expenses if the government's shutdown was ended.

Flight Delays and Effects of Government Shutdown

Meanwhile, the issues caused by the U.S. government shutdown are leading to flight delays to Chicago and Dallas due to staffing shortages experienced by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).