With just hours for Congress to reach a spending agreement before it hits its deadline, agencies are bracing for a possible government shutdown at midnight Friday.
During a government shutdown, agencies that don’t yet have their funding determined by Congress are legally required to shutter all activities that are financed by appropriations.
The Office of Management and Budget is already preparing contingency plans in the case that there’s a lapse in appropriations. Nearly all agencies updated their contingency plans during the last threat of a government shutdown in 2023.
Many federal employees may have questions about what happens to their work, pay and benefits during a shutdown. Federal News Network has compiled some answers based on guidance from the Office of Personnel Management and other agency resources.
Hey there folks! If you’ve ever wondered what happens to federal workers when the government slams on the brakes and shuts down you’re in the right place. I’m here to break down somethin’ super important—a bill to pay workers during shutdowns. Yeah, it’s a real game-changer for thousands of peeps who keep our country runnin’, even when politics turn into a hot mess. So, grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s chat about how this law is a lifeline, even if it ain’t perfect just yet.
What’s This Bill All About?
Alright let’s get straight to the meat of it. Back in 2019, a big honkin’ piece of legislation called the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act got passed. What’s it do? It guarantees that federal workers—whether they’re sittin’ at home furloughed or grindin’ away as “essential” staff—will get their back pay once the government reopens. No more crossin’ fingers and hopin’ Congress feels generous after every shutdown. This bill makes it automatic. Boom done.
Before this law, every time the government hit a funding wall, workers got left high and dry with no paycheck. Congress had to vote each dang time to give ‘em back pay after the mess was over. Imagine waitin’ weeks, maybe months, not knowin’ if you’d ever see that money. Stress city, right? This 2019 bill said, “Nah, we ain’t playin’ that game no more.” It passed with huge support—unanimous in the Senate and a landslide in the House. Even got signed into law by the big boss at the time. So now, federal employees got a safety net, even if it don’t kick in ‘til the shutdown ends.
Why Shutdowns Screw Over Workers
Lemme paint ya a picture. A government shutdown happens when our lovely lawmakers can’t agree on a budget or funding plan. Agencies close up shop, ‘cept for essential stuff like national security or emergency services. If you’re a federal worker, you either get sent home with no pay (that’s a furlough) or you’re forced to clock in as “essential” without seein’ a dime ‘til later. Bills don’t wait, though. Rent, groceries, car payments—they keep comin’, shutdown or not.
Without a bill like this 2019 one, you’d be stuck wonderin’ if you’d ever get paid for the work you did or the time you lost. I mean, how’s that fair? We’re talkin’ about folks who keep our parks open, process our taxes, inspect our food—real-deal important jobs. This law steps in and says, “Don’t worry, we gotchu. You’ll get your money… eventually.” It ain’t immediate, which sucks, but it’s a promise, and that’s somethin’.
How This Bill Changes the Game
Now let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of what this bill actually does for federal workers. I’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout how I’d feel if I was in their shoes, and man this would be a weight off my shoulders. Here’s the breakdown
- Guaranteed Back Pay: Whether you’re furloughed or workin’ without a paycheck, you’re gettin’ paid once the government sorts its nonsense. No more “maybe” or “we’ll see.” It’s law now.
- Overtime Too: If you’re an essential worker pullin’ extra hours during a shutdown, you’ll get that premium pay later. Not right away, but it’s comin’.
- No More Waitin’ on Votes: In the old days, Congress had to pass a separate thingamajig after every shutdown to approve back pay. Now, it’s baked into the system. Less drama, more certainty.
But here’s the kicker—it ain’t all roses. You still gotta wait ‘til the shutdown ends to see that cash. If a shutdown drags on for weeks, like that 35-day nightmare a few years back, you’re still scrapin’ by with no income. You might get your last paycheck for a bit, dependin’ on when the shutdown hits, but after that? Zilch ‘til it’s over. Still, knowin’ the money’s guaranteed is a big ol’ relief.
What About Benefits and Other Stuff?
Okay, so pay is one thing, but what about the other perks federal workers rely on? Shutdowns mess with more than just your wallet, and this bill ties into how those get handled too. Let’s run through it real quick-like:
- Health Coverage: Good news—your health insurance don’t disappear. If you’re in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, you’re still covered. Premiums pile up during the shutdown, but they get taken outta your first paycheck after it’s over. Same goes for dental and vision plans. Phew, no losin’ that safety net.
- Retirement Stuff: If you’re a retiree, your annuity payments keep rollin’ in, no interruption. For active workers, contributions to stuff like the Thrift Savings Plan get paused, but the folks runnin’ that program stay on the job since they’re funded differently.
- Bonuses and Awards: Agencies might still give out performance bonuses during a shutdown, but you ain’t seein’ that cash ‘til funding’s back. Same deal as regular pay—delayed but not denied.
- Leave? Nope: You can’t use vacation days or sick leave to dodge a furlough. If you had leave planned, it’s canceled if the shutdown hits. Tough luck, but that’s the rules.
I gotta say, we’re glad these basics are covered. If I was a federal worker, I’d be stressin’ hard about losin’ health coverage or retirement bucks. This setup ain’t perfect, but it keeps the essentials intact.
The Catch: It Ain’t Instant Money
Now, I don’t wanna sugarcoat this. The bill to pay workers during shutdowns is awesome, but it’s got a big fat “but” attached. You don’t get paid during the shutdown. You gotta wait ‘til the government reopens, which could be days, weeks, or even longer. Imagine tryin’ to stretch your last paycheck for a month while politicians bicker. It’s rough, y’all.
Some states let furloughed workers file for unemployment benefits, which is a lil’ lifeline. But here’s the rub—if you get back pay later, you often gotta pay that unemployment money back. So, it’s like borrowin’ from yourself with extra paperwork. Ain’t nobody got time for that kinda hassle, but sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do.
Who’s Still Left Hangin’?
Here’s where I get a bit fired up. This bill is great for federal employees, but what about the other folks caught in the crossfire? I’m talkin’ ‘bout federal contractors—janitors, kitchen staff, security guards, all them hard-workin’ people who keep government buildings runnin’. They don’t get no guaranteed back pay under this law. If their employer furloughs ‘em during a shutdown, they’re just outta luck. No paycheck, no promise of makin’ it up later. That’s straight-up wrong.
There’s been some push from lawmakers to fix this. Some have even introduced separate bills to get contractors compensated, especially low- and middle-income ones who can’t afford to miss a single check. I mean, c’mon, these folks are just as important. Why ain’t they covered? If we’re gonna protect workers, let’s protect all of ‘em. I’m hopin’ more laws come down the pike to patch this hole, ‘cause it’s a big one.
A Lil’ History on Shutdown Struggles
Lemme take ya back a bit. Shutdowns ain’t new. They’ve been happenin’ for decades whenever Congress and the White House can’t get their act together. One of the worst was a long stretch a few years ago—35 days of pure chaos. Federal workers were goin’ to food banks, takin’ side gigs, anything to make ends meet. That mess was a wake-up call, and it’s part of why this 2019 bill got pushed through. People saw the pain and said, “Enough is enough.”
Before that, every shutdown meant uncertainty. Would Congress vote for back pay? Sometimes they did, like after a big one in 2013, but it wasn’t a sure thing. Workers were pawns in a political game, and it stunk. This bill flipped the script, makin’ sure at least federal employees ain’t left wonderin’ if they’ll ever get paid for their time. It’s a step forward, even if we still got steps to take.
Why This Bill Matters to You (Even If You Ain’t Federal)
You might be thinkin’, “I ain’t a federal worker, so why should I care?” Fair question, my friend. But here’s the deal—government shutdowns mess with everybody. When agencies close, services slow down or stop. Think national parks closin’, tax refunds gettin’ delayed, or food inspections takin’ a backseat. That hits us all.
Plus, federal workers are part of our communities. They’re our neighbors, our friends, the folks at the grocery store. When they’re hurtin’, the whole town feels it. Local businesses lose customers ‘cause these workers gotta tighten their belts. It’s a ripple effect. This bill helps keep their heads above water, which keeps the rest of us from sinkin’ too. We’re all in this together, ya know?
What’s Next for Shutdown Laws?
Look, this bill is a solid start, but it ain’t the end of the story. Shutdowns keep loomin’ on the horizon—heck, as I’m writin’ this, lawmakers are still arguin’ over funding, and we might see another lapse soon. Every time, it’s the workers who bear the brunt. I reckon we need more action, not just for federal employees but for contractors and anyone else caught up in this mess.
There’s talk of new laws to cover more people or maybe even stop shutdowns from happenin’ at all. Wouldn’t that be somethin’? Imagine a world where the government don’t just grind to a halt ‘cause of politics. ‘Til then, this bill is what we got, and I’m grateful for it, even with its flaws.
How Can We Support Federal Workers?
So, what can we regular folks do? I’ve been mullin’ this over, and here’s a few ideas to toss out there:
- Spread the Word: Talk about this bill and why it’s important. The more people know, the more pressure there is to protect all workers, not just some.
- Support Local: If a shutdown hits, check in on federal workers in your circle. Maybe buy a coffee for someone who’s strugglin’. Small stuff adds up.
- Push for More: Reach out to your lawmakers. Tell ‘em to cover contractors and find ways to avoid shutdowns altogether. They work for us, right?
I ain’t sayin’ we gotta fix everything ourselves, but little actions can make a big difference. We gotta look out for each other, ‘specially when the system don’t.
A Personal Take on This Whole Mess
Lemme get real for a sec. If I was a federal worker, I’d be torn. On one hand, this bill is a godsend—knowin’ I’d get paid eventually would keep me sane. On the other, waitin’ for that money while bills pile up? That’s a gut punch. I’ve had times in my life where I lived paycheck to paycheck, and just thinkin’ ‘bout a shutdown durin’ those days makes my stomach turn. We gotta do better by these folks. They ain’t just cogs in a machine—they’re people with families, dreams, and worries just like the rest of us.
Wrappin’ It Up with Hope
At the end of the day, the bill to pay workers during shutdowns is a bright spot in a pretty dark situation. It’s a promise that federal employees won’t be totally screwed over when politics fail. Yeah, it ain’t perfect—contractors are still out in the cold, and the wait for back pay can be brutal. But it’s progress, and I’ll take that over nothin’ any day.
So, next time you hear ‘bout a possible shutdown, remember this law. Remember the folks it helps and the ones it don’t. And maybe, just maybe, let’s keep pushin’ for a system that don’t let workers down in the first place. We can dream, can’t we? Thanks for readin’ my ramblin’ thoughts on this. Drop a comment if you’ve got stories or ideas—I’m all ears!
What happens to feds’ paid leave?
Because the shutdown threat is occurring just ahead of the holiday season, federal employees may also have questions about taking leave.
Furloughed employees continue to accrue annual leave and sick leave as normal — as long as there was no other reason aside from a shutdown that the employee was put on a “non-pay” status, according to 2021 shutdown guidance from OPM. Excepted employees also continue to accrue leave as normal even though they aren’t being paid during a shutdown.
For those who were planning to take vacation during a potential shutdown, the use of paid leave varies by the category of employees. Excepted employees can take paid leave during a shutdown, as normal, through one of two options.
First, excepted employees could request time off and get approval from their supervisor. In this case, they would dip into their paid leave bank as usual.
But second, excepted employees could also be placed on “default furlough status” for any approved absence during a government shutdown. In those cases, agencies will not charge employees’ personal leave banks, and the approved leave hours would be considered “furloughed hours.”
In either case, excepted employees would still not receive pay for the leave hours until a shutdown ends.
Furloughed employees, however, cannot take paid leave during a shutdown. Any previously approved or scheduled time off will be canceled for furloughed employees. But again, they will be paid only after a shutdown ends.
Pay for excepted, exempt, furloughed feds
Generally, each federal employee will fall into one of three categories: excepted, exempt or furloughed.
Excepted employees continue to work but are not paid until after the shutdown is over. They are guaranteed backpay once a shutdown ends.
Exempt employees, in contrast, continue to work and get paid as usual during a shutdown. They are employees who work in positions financed by funds other than annual appropriations.
A small number of employees working at non-appropriated fund agencies, however, are partially paid through appropriated funds, which may lead to some furloughs.
Furloughed employees — a third category of federal employees — stop working during a shutdown. They do not get paid until the end of the shutdown but are guaranteed backpay.
Federal employees who are excepted and continue to work during a shutdown are also still able to earn a premium pay rate for any overtime hours, Sunday hours, night hours, and all other types of premium payments. But again, employees will not see those payments until after a shutdown ends.
Agencies are responsible for updating their shutdown contingency plans to determine which employees fall into which of the three categories.
As for the timing of payment, federal employees who are furloughed or considered excepted can expect to be paid in retrospect once a government shutdown ends, according to a 2019 law.
If a shutdown occurs in the middle of a pay period, employees should still receive paychecks for any work they did prior to the start of the shutdown. Usually, a small number of payroll staff are excepted, and continue to work during a shutdown to process and issue the paychecks. And once a shutdown ends, federal payroll providers are expected to process checks immediately, regardless of when the next scheduled pay date is.
Federal contractors, on the other hand, may have to stop working during a shutdown. And in contrast to federal employees, contractors are not guaranteed backpay. It is up to each company to make the decision on pay for its employees once a shutdown ends.
Members of Congress, by law, receive their full paychecks throughout a government shutdown. Congressional support staff, however, generally do not receive pay during a shutdown, depending on if there is appropriated funding for legislative branch activities. The President also continues to receive a paycheck during a shutdown, as well as Supreme Court justices and all appointed justices.
Congress approves bill to pay back federal employees once shutdown is over
FAQ
Will government employees get back pay after a shutdown?
But that back pay was not guaranteed until Congress passed a federal law called the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act in January 2019. The law requires both essential employees who worked without pay, as well as furloughed workers who did not report to work, to be paid after a shutdown ends.
Do federal employees get paid during a shutdown?
Excepted federal employees (those who must work during a shutdown), will receive their “standard rate of pay” after the shutdown ends for the actual hours that they worked, including any overtime or other premium pay, allowances, and differentials earned based on actual hours worked.
Will furloughed federal workers be paid during a shutdown?
Salaries: Neither furloughed federal workers nor those deemed essential and forced to work during a shutdown will be paid during a shutdown. But thanks to a 2019 law signed as part of the deal to end the 35-day shutdown during President Trump’s first term, all federal workers will be automatically granted back pay once funding has been restored.
Will federal contractors get paid during shutdown?
The law doesn’t cover federal contractors — who are also missing paychecks due to the government shutdown. A group of Senate Democrats have introduced legislation that would pay low-wage federal contractors, such as cafeteria workers, janitors and security guards, for the duration of the shutdown.
Will military employees get paid during a government shutdown?
Military service members and furloughed U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) personnel would not be paid during a government shutdown. But, like other federal employees, they will receive back pay when it ends.
Do federal employees have to be compensated after a government shutdown?
The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (S. 24) requires federal employees who are furloughed or required to work during a lapse in appropriations resulting from a government shutdown to be compensated for the period of the lapse. Federal employees must be compensated on the earliest date possible after the shutdown ends.
Do employees get paid during a government shutdown?
Employees not required to work are “furloughed,” that is, placed in a non-pay, non- duty status, until the shut-down ends. Will “excepted” employees get paid? Employees designated “excepted” who continue to work during the shut-down will almost certainly be paid for this period.
Do members of Congress get paid during a shutdown?
Under current law, Members receive regular paychecks during government shutdowns while thousands of federal employees are furloughed without pay. During the 2018-19 government shutdown, more than 800,000 federal employees were furloughed without pay, including 6,000 in Minnesota.
What is the Federal Back pay Act shutdown?
The Act requires that furloughed employees receive retroactive wages for the length of a shutdown at the standard rate of pay. It also requires that excepted employees working without pay receive retroactive pay for work performed.
What is the bill for federal workers to return to work?
Federal Employee Return to Work Act
The bill makes executive agency employees who telework at least one day each week (or, in the case of an alternative work schedule, 20% or more each week) ineligible for these payments. The bill is effective on the first day of the fiscal year beginning after the bill’s enactment.
