President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday that not all furloughed federal employees will receive back pay once the government shutdown ends, a reversal of long-standing bipartisan policy.
“I would say it depends on who we’re talking about,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with Canada’s prime minister. “For the most part, we’re going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don’t deserve to be taken care of.”
The remarks follow a draft memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) suggesting back pay for furloughed workers is contingent on congressional approval, despite the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which mandates retroactive pay.
Democrats and federal unions denounced the comments, saying the president is attempting to divide workers for political leverage. The Office of Personnel Management reiterated that furloughed employees “will receive retroactive pay” as soon as funding is restored.
Trump defended his stance, saying, “Ask the Democrats that question,” while insisting he would still “follow the law.”
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