Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) mentioned on Tuesday that he believes federal workers who were affected by the shutdown should be reimbursed, though he indicated that those payments might not be forthcoming.
“I really hope workers who served during this time will get the backpay they deserve,” Johnson said to reporters at the Capitol. “These are incredible Americans who dedicate themselves to serving the federal government. They work hard and perform essential roles across various agencies.”
However, he also acknowledged a new memo from President Trump’s Budget Office, which suggests that the administration may not be legally required to compensate workers who didn’t receive pay during the shutdown.
This memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) offers a distinct interpretation of fair treatment for government employees that Trump had endorsed during the prolonged shutdowns in 2019.
“It’s a fact that in previous shutdowns, many workers received pay for the time they were sidelined,” Johnson noted. “But there are legal experts who argue that the law regarding backpay might not apply in this situation.”
Johnson pointed out that he hasn’t delved into the legal specifics of the OMB’s guidance and that he hadn’t discussed the matter with the White House. He mentioned that Trump, who seemed to be leaning toward terminating pay for some federal workers, wanted to ensure that those who served weren’t left unpaid.
“We’ve talked about this personally. He definitely doesn’t want anyone going without pay,” Johnson added.
The speaker also called on Senate Democrats, especially Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), to reject the Republicans’ ongoing resolutions, stating that discussions on other policy matters would not take place beforehand.
“I’m fairly confident about withholding backpay being a wrong move. Yet, there are legal analysts who believe it’s not something the government should pursue,” he said.
