Federal Employees Await Back Pay After Government Shutdown Ends

After a prolonged 43-day government shutdown, over 1.4 million federal employees are set to receive their back pay soon. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has outlined a projected pay schedule, indicating that many workers could see funds as early as this Sunday. However, others may need to wait until November 19 to receive their payments.

Pay Schedule for Federal Employees

During the shutdown, hundreds of thousands of essential employees continued to work without pay, while non-essential employees were furloughed. Both categories are entitled to back pay for the duration of the shutdown.

The administration aims to resolve all backlog payments by November 19, urging agencies to process payments “expeditiously and accurately.” The specifics of the payments vary by agency, but the first paychecks will predominantly cover the period from October 1 to November 1. These initial payments will consist of base pay only, with no bonuses or overtime included.

Projected Paycheck Distribution

• November 15: Employees at the General Services Administration and Office of Personnel Management will receive their checks, covering base pay only.
• November 16: Army and non-Army civilian employees, along with staff from the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Energy, and Health and Human Services, will begin receiving paychecks. These will include base pay, overtime, and hazard pay.
• November 17: More than 150,000 employees from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and Social Security Administration are projected to get their paychecks, which will also reflect only base pay.
• November 19: Employees at the Small Business Administration and Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and others will receive their payments, covering the entire shutdown period from November 1 to November 13.

Legislative Context

The impact of unpaid federal workers became a significant issue during recent negotiations to fund the government. This concern contributed to a bipartisan effort that included eight Senate Democrats joining Republicans to end the deadlock. The funding bill passed the House and was signed into law by President Trump.

This legislation provides government funding until January 30, 2024, indicating a potential for another funding conflict early next year. Meanwhile, other segments of the government are funded through September 2026.

As many federal employees eagerly await their back pay, the focus remains on ensuring timely and accurate disbursements while preparing for future budget discussions.