Republican Leaders Say Federal Workers Should Get Back Pay After Shutdown

A draft White House memo says workers have no guarantee of compensation for time the government is closed.

John Thune

Aaron Schwartz/Sipa USA via AP

Republicans said Tuesday they want federal workers to receive back pay when the government reopens despite a memo from the White House suggesting furloughed workers may not be entitled to it.

A draft White House memo says workers aren’t guaranteed compensation for the time they must work without pay during the government shutdown, despite a law that is largely interpreted to entitle those workers to that compensation, Axios first reported.

The Office of Management and Budget also stripped its shutdown guidance on Friday of reference to the law that says federal workers should receive back pay.