Congressman Cohen Demands Back Pay for Furloughed Federal Workforce

MEMPHIS - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) wrote to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought today seeking clarification on whether federal employees furloughed because of the government shutdown will receive back pay when their offices re-open.

A recent OMB memorandum suggested employees may not be guaranteed back pay, which "is inconsistent with both federal law and decades of bipartisan precent," Congressman Cohen's letter says.

"The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 - signed into law by then-President Donald J. Trump - explicitly guarantees back pay for all federal employees affected by a lapse in appropriations.

"The plain language of that statute leaves no room for doubt: federal employees who are required to work without pay, as well as those furloughed during a shutdown, must be made whole when government funding is restored."

See the entire letter here.

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