By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that some furloughed federal employees may not receive back pay once the government reopens, after threats to lay off federal workers during shutdown.
Trump said at the White House Oval Office “I would say it depends on who we’re talking about. I can tell you this, the Democrats have put a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy, but it really depends on who you’re talking about”.
“But 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, and we will take care of them in a different way,” he said.
Trump did not provide further details on which furloughed federal employees might not receive back pay, media reported.
Axios reported that furloughed federal workers are not guaranteed compensation for their forced time off during the government shutdown, cited a draft White House memo.
Trump continued to blame Democrats for the shutdown stalemate, Democratic leaders blamed Republicans.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X “The Republicans shut down the government instead of fixing health care for Americans across this country.”
Trump signed a law guaranteeing back pay for federal employees affected by future shutdowns after the previous government shutdown, which lasted 35 days and ended in January 2019.
US Congress approved back pay for federal workers once a funding bill was approved to reopen the government Before the law was passed.
Over 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed during this shutdown, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office last week.
Federal workers deemed essential such as air traffic controllers and law enforcement officers will continue working without pay until the government reopens.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that the government shutdown is adding pressure on already overworked air traffic controllers.
