Written by Queenie

As the U.S. government shutdown continues, federal workers are facing growing uncertainty over whether they’ll receive retroactive pay when the impasse ends. While the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA) requires back pay for both furloughed and excepted employees after a lapse in appropriations, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) now argues that Congress must explicitly appropriate funds for those payments. 

On October 23, 2025, the United States Senate voted down several bills aimed at ensuring timely pay for federal employees during the shutdown. One measure would have paid only “excepted” workers who must work during the shutdown, while another broader proposal sought to cover all federal workers—both failed to garner the 60 votes required. 

Although lawmakers are exploring more comprehensive legislation—such as the Shutdown Fairness Act, introduced on October 15, 2025, which would allow normal pay for employees working during a funding lapse—until funding is restored and a back-pay measure enacted, many federal workers remain in limbo about their financial outlook. 

What This Means for Workers:

Essential employees working without pay could be paid retroactively—but only if Congress appropriates the funds. Furloughed workers may not receive back pay unless a explicit funding measure is passed. Political deadlock means the timing and amount of any payments remain uncertain.

In short: federal employees affected by the shutdown may finally get paid—but only if lawmakers act.