White House signals withholding federal back pay amid shutdown
The White House and OMB have floated plans that would not guarantee retroactive pay for furloughed federal workers as the partial government shutdown—entered Oct. 1, 2025—enters its second week. President Donald Trump, speaking Oct. 7 during a meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney, blamed Democrats and said the shutdown is like a 'kamikaze attack,' warned some federal jobs might be permanently eliminated, and said whether workers receive back pay 'depends on who we're talking about.'
Politics
Economy
📌 Key Facts
- OMB has reviewed plans that would not guarantee back pay for furloughed federal employees, a departure from the post‑shutdown practice codified after the 2019 lapse.
- President Trump made public comments on Oct. 7, 2025 (meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney) blaming Democrats and using the phrase 'kamikaze attack'; he also said some federal jobs 'will never come back.'
- The partial government shutdown began Oct. 1, 2025; OMB had instructed agencies in September to draft reduction‑in‑force (RIF) plans should a shutdown occur.