White House Memo Sparks Back Pay Dispute for Federal Shutdown Workers
President Donald Trump has signed a bipartisan law ensuring back pay for federal workers affected by the January 2019 government shutdown. However, a recent White House memo has sparked controversy by suggesting that furloughed workers may not automatically receive this compensation.
The 'Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019' was passed by lawmakers, including Senators Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, to guarantee back pay for 'excepted employees' once funding became available. Senator Rand Paul previously advocated for the possibility of denying repayment in this case.
The White House memo, drafted by Mark Paoletta for Russ Vought, contradicts these expectations. It suggests that the legislation ending the funding lapse would need specific language to provide funds for the back pay of furloughed workers. This opinion was first reported by Axios and confirmed by POLITICO's E&E News. The memo also follows an update to the White House's public guidance document, which removed language about back pay for furloughed workers. A legal battle is anticipated if the White House attempts to deny back pay.
The White House's memo has raised questions about the compensation of furloughed federal workers following the 2019 shutdown. Despite the bipartisan law ensuring back pay, the White House's interpretation of the legislation could lead to a legal dispute. The implications of this memo are significant for the hundreds of thousands of federal workers who were affected by the shutdown.
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