Partnership for Public Service statement on compensation for furloughed federal employees during the government shutdown

October 7, 2025

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier in response to reporting about a draft White House memo from the Office of Management and Budget asserting that furloughed federal employees are not entitled to back pay during the government shutdown: 

“Thousands of federal employees did not choose to be furloughed from their jobs during this completely avoidable government shutdown. Denying these workers back pay would be dubious, contradictory and immensely cruel. 

“The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 – which President Trump signed into law during his first term – is very clear in its mandate to give automatic back pay to furloughed workers during a lapse in appropriations. The draft OMB memo is also in direct conflict with OPM shutdown guidance released by the administration just last month.  

“This would be yet another move by the administration to traumatize federal employees out of government service. Our federal workers are both victims and first responders to this shutdown crisis. Using these public stewards as pawns in political fights is wrong, and it’s the American people who rely on the services they provide that will ultimately suffer.” 

To learn more about how the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle federal institutions, funding streams and infrastructure are disrupting critical public services and agency work, check out the Partnership’s Federal Harms Tracker.  

For more information about how the government shutdown is impacting federal employees and the public, visit the Partnership’s government shutdown resource hub.  

During the past 24 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees.    

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.  

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