Paychecks in Peril: Government Workers Face Uncertainty Amid Shutdown

The White House is stirring up trouble with a new idea: maybe furloughed workers shouldn't get paid for days they didn't work during the government shutdown. This thought comes from a draft memo, but it's not clear if anyone is seriously considering it.

A Big Deal with Major Implications

This idea is a big deal. It goes against what most people thought the law said. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA), was supposed to guarantee back pay for furloughed workers after a shutdown. President Trump signed it into law in 2019 after a record-long shutdown.

White House Questions the Law

But now, the White House is saying maybe they got it wrong. They think the law might be "deficient" or misunderstood. This is causing a lot of worry for the roughly 750,000 federal workers who might be furloughed.

Workers Feel the Pinch

Many workers will feel the pinch soon. Their paychecks will be smaller this week, and for some, it might be their last until the shutdown ends. The White House's idea seems to clash with what Trump said recently. He told military members not to worry about their pay.

Union Disagrees with the Memo

The American Federation of Government Employees isn't happy with the memo. They say it doesn't match what the White House Office of Personnel Management said earlier. That guidance promised retroactive pay for furloughed workers as soon as possible after a shutdown ends.