Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 8: U.S. President Donald Trump has stirred fresh controversy amid the ongoing government shutdown by suggesting that not all furloughed federal employees may receive back pay once the government reopens. His remarks, made during an Oval Office briefing, come as tensions escalate over the deadlock in Washington.
“I would say it depends on who we're talking about,” Trump said, responding to questions about compensation for furloughed workers. “For the most part, we're going to take care of our people. But there are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we will take care of them in a different way.”
Trump did not specify which categories of employees he was referring to, nor did he provide clarity on what he meant by “a different way.”
The comments follow a report by Axios, citing a draft White House memo, that furloughed workers are not guaranteed back pay, a departure from previous norms and legislative guarantees.
Trump continued to place the blame squarely on Democrats for the funding impasse, claiming they had “put a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy.” Meanwhile, Democratic leaders pushed back, pointing the finger at Republicans for failing to prevent the shutdown.
“The Republicans shut down the government instead of fixing health care for Americans across this country,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The current shutdown is expected to furlough approximately 750,000 federal workers, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Essential personnel — including air traffic controllers, law enforcement officers, and emergency workers — will continue to work without pay until a resolution is reached.
The situation has already begun to strain key services. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that air traffic controllers, already stretched thin, are under increased pressure due to the shutdown.
The President's latest remarks mark a sharp contrast to his actions following the 2019 shutdown, which lasted a record 35 days. At that time, Trump signed legislation guaranteeing back pay to affected federal employees in future shutdowns.
Traditionally, Congress has approved back pay for furloughed workers once a government funding bill is passed. However, Trump’s latest comments have introduced uncertainty into what has historically been a bipartisan assurance.
With no immediate end to the standoff in sight, concerns are mounting over the financial well-being of federal workers — many of whom live paycheck to paycheck — and the long-term effects on public services and trust in government.