White House Considers Denying Back Pay to Furloughed Workers Despite 2019 Law

White House Floats No Back Pay for Some Furloughed Federal Workers Despite 2019 Law The White House is considering denying back pay to some of the approximately 600,000 furloughed federal workers once the government reopens, despite a 2019 law intended to ensure compensation after a shutdown. President Trump appeared to endorse this idea in the Oval Office on Tuesday. According to a draft White House memo obtained by NPR, the administration is arguing that denying back pay to some employees would be justified due to their role in the ongoing partial government shutdown. The memo suggests that certain workers, such as those who are deemed "non-essential" or have been accused of being disloyal to the Trump administration, could be denied compensation. When questioned about this proposal, Trump stated, "I would say it depends on who we're talking about... There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we will take care of them in a different way." He also claimed that Democrats had put many workers at risk during the shutdown. Pressed on the legality of such a move, Trump said, "What the law says is correct," but did not provide further clarification. The 2019 law, which was passed with bipartisan support, explicitly states that federal employees should receive back pay after a government shutdown. The proposal has sparked concerns among lawmakers and advocacy groups. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called it "unacceptable" and stated that the administration's actions would be "a slap in the face to hardworking federal employees." "This is not just about fairness; it's also about the rule of law," said Schumer. "The 2019 law was passed to ensure that federal workers are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their role or politics." Some experts argue that denying back pay would have significant consequences for affected workers, including financial hardship and damage to their credit scores. "This is a clear attempt by the administration to politicize the shutdown and punish employees who disagree with them," said Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service. "It's a reckless and irresponsible move that will only exacerbate the harm caused by this shutdown." The White House has not yet confirmed whether it plans to implement this proposal or provide further details on which workers would be affected. As the government remains in partial shutdown mode, federal employees continue to go without pay. The shutdown has now entered its 26th day, with no clear end in sight. *Reporting by Npr.*