Employees working incurs other costs beyond the employees’ compensation, but, yes, assuming the back pay requirement is honored [0], that’s essentially what it is.
[0] The White House this week argued that the law that clearly and unambiguously requires this does not in fact do so, and OMB removed references to the law and its requirements from their shutdown guidance to agencies, so I would not count on the Administration honoring it, at least initially.
My furloughed gov't friends joke about it that way, but as pointed out by trenchpilgrim, they're not getting paid during this. Their paychecks this week will be for only 7 days of work, 30% short of a normal paycheck, and if the shutdown persists two more weeks, then they will not receive their next paycheck (they will eventually receive the pay, but late).
Yes, he's said that, then they backtracked, not sure where they stand now. The law is pretty clear though that back pay is owed to the furloughed workers.
Employees working incurs other costs beyond the employees’ compensation, but, yes, assuming the back pay requirement is honored [0], that’s essentially what it is.
[0] The White House this week argued that the law that clearly and unambiguously requires this does not in fact do so, and OMB removed references to the law and its requirements from their shutdown guidance to agencies, so I would not count on the Administration honoring it, at least initially.
My furloughed gov't friends joke about it that way, but as pointed out by trenchpilgrim, they're not getting paid during this. Their paychecks this week will be for only 7 days of work, 30% short of a normal paycheck, and if the shutdown persists two more weeks, then they will not receive their next paycheck (they will eventually receive the pay, but late).
Trump said some workers won't receive back pay and don't deserve to be taken care of
Yes, he's said that, then they backtracked, not sure where they stand now. The law is pretty clear though that back pay is owed to the furloughed workers.
EDIT:
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/10/tuesday-trump-admi...
That article covers the backtracking. Yesterday no back pay, today they tell the employees they will get back pay.
When I go on vacation, I still get paid that pay period, so I don't have to worry about paying the rent/mortgage and utilities in the meantime...