Federal Workers Face Financial Strain Amid Shutdown and Retroactive Pay Delays

During the government shutdown, roughly 1.4 million federal employees are missing their paychecks, but under the 2019 law, they are generally entitled to retroactive back pay once the shutdown ends. While the law is clear, some White House memos suggest uncertainty about guaranteed back pay for furloughed workers, leading to potential legal challenges. Back pay is expected to be issued as soon as the shutdown concludes, but contractors and unemployment benefits have different rules. The situation remains uncertain until a resolution is reached.