Who Receives Back Pay After Federal Shutdown
CBS News reports that furloughed federal employees and excepted (essential) workers are guaranteed back pay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, but independent contractors and many private workers supported by federal grants or contracts have no such statutory guarantee and can face delayed or missed payments during a shutdown. The piece cites estimates of hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers, GAO contract totals, and interviews with former officials and government‑contracts attorneys explaining invoice‑processing problems that slow contractor payments.
Government
Economy
🔍 Key Facts
- The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees back pay to furloughed federal workers and excepted employees once appropriations resume.
- Oxford Economics estimate: roughly 620,000 federal workers (about 28% of federal workforce) could be furloughed during the shutdown; an additional up to 10 million private workers are supported by federal grants and contracts.
- U.S. Government Accountability Office: the federal government spent about $755 billion on contracts in 2024; contract payments can be delayed during shutdowns because invoice processing often requires personnel who may be furloughed.