Senate Moves to End Government Shutdown, Securing Back Pay for Employees

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has taken critical steps toward ending the longest government shutdown in history. A tentative agreement was reached that includes provisions for back pay for all federal employees and a reversal of recent layoffs initiated by the Trump administration.

The agreement, unveiled late Sunday, outlines that both excepted and furloughed federal employees would receive back pay dating to October 1, the start of the shutdown. Lawmakers emphasize this compensation aligns with past shutdowns, where Congress has enacted back pay provisions. However, legal interpretations regarding back pay surfaced after the Office of Management and Budget issued a draft opinion suggesting furloughed employees may not automatically be entitled to it.

Several lawmakers, unions, and legal experts criticized this opinion as a misinterpretation of the 2019 Government Employees Fair Treatment Act. The prolonged shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without two paychecks, prompting urgent calls for action from various officials.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed the need for immediate action, stating, “The time to act is now.” After overcoming a procedural hurdle requiring 60 votes, most Democrats voted against the measure, although a small group of moderate Democrats ultimately supported the bill.

Along with back pay, the proposed legislation would reverse over 4,200 Reduction in Force (RIF) notices distributed to federal employees since mid-October. These notices stemmed primarily from guidance issued by the Trump administration directing agencies to proceed with layoffs in the absence of funding.

Notably, many of these layoffs were temporarily halted due to a district court ruling last month. The legislation also includes a temporary bar on further layoffs until late January. Federal employee organizations have expressed strong support for these back pay provisions and for protecting employee jobs.

Marcus Hill, president of the Senior Executives Association, highlighted the necessity of these protections, stating they ensure fairness and uphold critical services that millions rely on. Meanwhile, NARFE President William Shackelford pointed out the significant financial burden the shutdown has placed on federal employees.

The Senate’s agreement also comes amid mounting pressures to address the government’s impact on various sectors, like air travel and food assistance programs, which have been disrupted due to the funding lapse. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioned that air travel might soon be severely impacted if the government remains shut down.

Lawmakers from both parties appear to be assessing options to resolve this crisis expeditiously. Despite some Republicans’ resistance to negotiations on health care issues tied to the shutdown, ongoing bipartisan discussions suggest a pathway to secure funding without causing further hardship.

The final details of the spending bill are anticipated to unfold as lawmakers prepare for more procedural votes. President Donald Trump, during a recent discussion, indicated the necessity of concluding the shutdown negotiations. With bipartisan cooperation being sought, federal employees may soon see resolution to the financial strain caused by the shutdown.