Tell Congress to give furloughed workers back pay!

On October 7, the White House issued a memo suggesting that furloughed federal workers may not receive back pay when the shutdown ends. This move breaks decades of precedent and threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of public servants. Axios reported that the memo circulated quietly among agency leaders, while Politico confirmed that it sparked confusion and outrage across federal departments. The Hill and The New York Times both noted that the decision would upend long-standing practice dating back to the 1970s, when every prior shutdown ended with full back pay.

Congress already passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act in 2019 to guarantee retroactive pay after any shutdown — a safeguard designed to prevent precisely this kind of political punishment. Yet the Trump administration’s new guidance directly contradicts that law. Representative Don Beyer, who co-sponsored the act, warned that this would devastate working families who have no choice but to wait for Washington to act.

In past shutdowns, workers and allies flooded Congress and the White House with demands for justice — and lawmakers had to respond. When enough people speak out, the administration will have no choice but to reverse course and honor the law.

We need action now — before it’s too late.

 Add your name to demand that President Trump, OMB Director Russell Vought, and Speaker Mike Johnson guarantee full retroactive pay for every furloughed worker the moment this shutdown ends.

Thanks,
Mary