As the government shutdown continues, Senate Democrats are proposing a new federal pay plan aimed at addressing compensation issues for affected federal employees. This proposal emerges in response to a Republican bill currently scheduled for a Senate vote. The GOP’s Shutdown Fairness Act, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson, seeks to ensure immediate pay for federal employees deemed “excepted” during the shutdown.
Senate Democrats Counter with Furlough Pay Proposal
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has prioritized the GOP bill, targeting a possible vote soon. However, the proposed legislation does not extend financial relief to the approximately 700,000 federal employees who have been furloughed without pay. This has led many Senate Democrats to express opposition.
Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) criticized the Republican bill for granting the president significant discretion in designating essential federal workers, risking potential political misuse. He stated, “I don’t like the bill because it gives the president the ability to decide who’s essential and who’s not.”
Democratic Proposal Highlights
The Democratic alternative is being spearheaded by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). Although the specifics are still under discussion, their plan aims to provide compensation to both furloughed and excepted employees. Kaine described the Democrats’ approach as fair and equitable to all affected federal workers.
- Both excepted and furloughed federal employees are guaranteed retroactive pay once the shutdown ends, thanks to a law enacted in 2019.
- The guarantee for furloughed employees has recently been challenged by the White House, which many view as a misinterpretation of the law.
Status of Federal Employees During the Shutdown
Currently, military personnel, law enforcement, and certain Department of Homeland Security staff are receiving paychecks as the administration reallocates funds for specific federal workers. The Shutdown Fairness Act proposes to extend immediate pay to all excepted federal employees while also committing to retroactive compensation dating back to the funding lapse that began on October 1.
Support for the Shutdown Fairness Act
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) has voiced its support for this legislation. In a correspondence to senators, NARFE emphasized that the act benefits excepted employees without exacerbating the hardships faced by furloughed workers. They argued that the bill does not favor any political agendas but differentiates between required and non-required roles during the shutdown.
The Partnership for Public Service has also shown partial support for the GOP bill, although they acknowledge it offers only a partial solution. Max Stier, the Partnership’s president, remarked, “Career federal employees, both military and civilian, should not bear the brunt of this dereliction of duty.”
Impact of the Shutdown
Federal employees are poised to experience their first fully missed paycheck as the situation persists. Many received their last partial payments around October 10. Notable is that federal contract workers, particularly those in lower-wage jobs, do not have a guarantee of back pay after a shutdown.
Research indicates that half of Americans are feeling the direct effects of the ongoing shutdown, with travel delays and facility closures becoming more common. Experts predict these repercussions will escalate if the shutdown stretches further.
