Republicans block legislation to ensure all federal workers are paid 

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) cosponsored bills led by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to pay all federal employees during the Republican-led shutdown. Senator Peters’ Military and Federal Employee Protection Act would reopen the government for one day to ensure all furloughed and excepted employees are paid within one week of enactment. In addition to paying federal employees during the shutdown, Senator Van Hollen’s True Shutdown Fairness Act would block the Trump Administration’s attempts at mass firings (Reductions in Force, or RIFs) during the shutdown. 

Senate Republicans blocked the passage of both bills this afternoon. 

“It defies common sense and anyone’s definition of fairness to say that only certain federal employees should get paid during a shutdown, or that federal employees should be laid off during a shutdown. While the President may insist that he had ‘no choice’ but to lay off federal workers during the shutdown, let’s be clear: he’s been doing this since day one. We need to do everything we can to end this shutdown and get these folks paid and back to work,” said Senator Welch. “These bills push back against the President’s lawless rampage and will ensure all of our federal workers are paid for doing their jobs.” 

The Military and Federal Employee Protection Act would provide a one-time appropriation to pay servicemembers, federal employees, and contractors who have missed any compensation from October 1 to the date the bill is enacted, as a result of the government shutdown. The bill ensures that both furloughed employees, as well as employees who have been excepted from furlough status and are continuing to work, are guaranteed to receive their standard pay. The bill would also require that all employees receive any delayed compensation within one week of enactment, to ensure they are paid in a timely fashion. 

The True Shutdown Fairness Act would immediately restart pay for all excepted and furloughed federal workers, servicemembers, and federal contractors during the current shutdown. The legislation also includes a prohibition on RIFs while the federal government is shut down. Federal employees are ensured retroactive pay after a shutdown ends due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019—legislation that Senator Welch supported as a Member of the House of Representatives and was signed into law by President Trump.  

Read and download the full text of the True Shutdown Fairness Act. 

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