A handful of House Democrats this week pushed to ensure federal workers furloughed in last month’s government shutdown get both back pay plus interest on that pay.
The bill from Reps. Terri Sewell of Alabama and Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland is meant to help make amends for the partial government shutdown that stopped paychecks to 800,000 federal workers for more than a month.
The lawmakers said many federal workers fell behind on their monthly bills, and need help catching up.
“The Trump shutdown created significant financial insecurity for federal employees,” said Sewell. “Not only should the government pay back lost wages, it should work to reverse the real economic pain that will extend well into the future.”
“When taxpayers owe the federal government, interest accrues on late payments,” she added. “There should be no difference when the federal government owes its hardworking employees.”
Ruppersberger said the shutdown hit more than 30,000 federal workers.
Shutdowns have always ended with Congress passing legislation to make sure federal workers are paid. But current law doesn’t allow for interest payments on that money owed.
The partial government shutdown in December in January lasted a record 35 days.
[Opinion: Federal employees need to prepare for the next government shutdown]
