An amendment to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 on January 25, 2019 added language stating that compensation for furloughed employees is 'subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.'
January 25, 2019
high
temporal
The amendment introduced a condition linking payment for furloughed employees to subsequent appropriations acts.
The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA) is a federal law enacted in 2019 that addresses pay and benefits for federal employees affected by government shutdowns.
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
GEFTA was enacted in response to a previous government shutdown to clarify treatment of federal employees during funding lapses.
Prior to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, Congress generally had to enact new legislation to provide retroactive pay to federal employees after a lapse in appropriations (a government shutdown).
January 01, 2019
high
temporal
Describes the prior practice for restoring pay after government shutdowns before the 2019 statutory change.
The statutory phrase 'subject to the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse' can be interpreted to mean that payment of backpay to furloughed federal employees is contingent on Congress enacting appropriations that end a funding lapse.
January 01, 2019
high
legal
That statutory phrasing creates a legal question about whether backpay is automatic or requires subsequent congressional appropriations.