President Trump says furloughed workers may not “deserve” Backpay
During a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office, President Trump said some furloughed workers were “not eligible” to receive the outstanding amount.
WASHINGTON – The federal government shutdown entered its eighth day Wednesday, warning President Donald Trump that if the closure ends it could block the receipt of unpaid federal employees from furloughing.
Following President Trump’s threat, pressure on Senate Democrats to end the conflict has intensified, leading to legal scrutiny of the White House’s tactics, which are shutting down agencies.
After skipping yesterday’s vote, the Senate is set to hold its sixth vote on a bill that will fund the government around 11:20am today. The two government funding bills supported by Democrats and Republicans have failed to meet the Senate’s 60-vote standard five times, which is necessary to pass the bill.
President Trump also threatened to fire federal employees and cut government programs if government shutdowns continue.
“That depends on who you’re talking about,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on October 7 when asked whether the unpaid federal officials will be guaranteed if they return to staff.
“In most cases, we’re going to take care of the people,” Trump added. “There are people who really don’t deserve to be cared for. We take care of them in a different way.”
A rise in Senate closing votes is expected, but the outcome may not change
The Senate is scheduled to vote again on October 8th to reopen the government, which had been closed for a week, but it is not clear whether the outcome will change dramatically.
The series of votes is scheduled for 11:20am, including those relating to the Democratic and Republican proposals.
House Republicans had previously approved a bill that would continue funding the government until November 21, in order to allow time to discuss the annual spending bill that began on October 1.
However, the majority of Senate Democrats together with Republicans refused to support the bill due to concerns over rising medical costs. Democrats are attempting to withdraw previously approved Medicaid cuts and extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which expire on December 31, which could double premiums next year.
–Bart Jansen
Will the military receive a salary while the government is closed?
House Democrats are asking Speaker Mike Johnson to introduce a bill to secure wages for US soldiers while the agency is closed.
If the government shutdown continues, military officials will miss out on their first salary on October 15th.
According to an October 8 letter signed by Reps. Gabe Vazquez and Derek Tran, obtained by Punchbowl News, “We encourage bipartisan, common sense bills to be introduced to the chamber to ensure that military personnel, civilians and contractors will continue to receive their salaries even during the shutdown as negotiations continue to reopen the government.”
The House of Representatives is currently on hiatus.
-Zack Anderson
House Speaker Mike Johnson and other House Republicans are scheduled to hold a press conference on the government closure at 10am Wednesday, while House Democrats Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats will hold their own press conference at noon east time.
Republicans continue to blame Democrats for refusing to support the Republican-backed bill that funds the government until November 21st. Democrats are calling for any funding bill to withdraw recent Republican Medicaid cuts and extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year.
President Trump said on October 6 that he was ready to negotiate with Democrats to extend the healthcare subsidy. But Republican leaders in Congress have repeatedly said they will not negotiate health policy with Democrats until government resumes.
– Joey Garrison
Withholding payments when returning to furloughed workers is a huge difference from previous government closures, including the last government closures in 2019 when President Trump was president.
President Trump’s threat comes after the White House issued a new legal analysis that said 750,000 employees who were furloughed during the government’s shutdown are not entitled to unpaid money upon return. Trump administration officials confirmed the analysis to USA TODAY.
The 2019 Civil Service Fair Treatment Act, passed during the last government shutdown, states that federal employees who are furloughed during the expiration of government funds will be “paid wages during the expiration period.” The Act states that it applies to government funding lapses after December 22, 2018.
However, according to Axios, which first reported the White House’s new view on unpaid amounts, the White House in a new legal memo claims that the law does not automatically cover all furloughed workers due to the amendment approved nine days after its initial passage in January 2019.
The amendment states that furloughed workers will be repaid “on condition that an expenditure law will be enacted to end the expiration.”
But the White House’s new interpretation undermines the guidelines of the Trump administration’s own HR administration, which released a memo in September that furloughed workers will be paid wages.
The OPM memo states, “After the expiration of expenditures has ended, employees who have had to carry out exceptional duties during the expiration period will receive their salary retroactively to that period of service.”
– Joey Garrison
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt announced on social media on Tuesday that the Customs Fund will be used to continue the costs of its food assistance program for low-income households.
Levitt said women, infant and children programs are expected to run out of funds this week due to government closures. The program provided about $7.2 billion in aid last year, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
However, the administration has identified resources securing funds through tariffs on steel and aluminum. “President Trump will not allow poor mothers and their babies to starve because of Democrats’ political tactics,” Levitt said.
– Burt Jansen
