President Trump on Wednesday signed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, guaranteeing back pay to over 800,000 federal workers at the conclusion of the government shutdown.
The White House quietly noted the move, saying it was done behind closed doors and with no media present.
Workers were not in any real danger of losing wages due to the shutdown, but a bill guaranteeing their pay puts it on record that any wages not earned during that time will be recompensated.
The Act, according to CNN, “requires the compensation of government employees for wages lost, work performed, or leave used during a lapse in appropriations that begins on or after December 22, 2018, and entitles excepted employees to use leave during a lapse in appropriations.”
Sponsor of the bill, Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland, praised Trump for the move but urged colleagues to get the government reopened.
In 1 hour, @POTUS will sign my bill guaranteeing back pay for federal workers into law.
This is an important step toward providing our civil servants with some stability and hope. But it doesn’t help pay the bills *now.* To do that, we MUST reopen the government. #EndTheShutdown
— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) January 16, 2019
In a rare bipartisan agreement, both Houses of Congress voted in favor of the act.
Democrats Complained About Employees Being Forced to Work Without Pay
Liberals were beside themselves when the President ordered 50,000 essential employees back to work without pay in an attempt to process essential items such as tax returns, security screening at airports, as well as air-traffic controllers.
“The move will allow Americans to get their tax refunds on time,” CNN lamented, “but at the expense of the IRS employees, most of whom won’t be paid.”
Now, they will be.
NEW: President Donald Trump has signed legislation giving furloughed federal workers back pay when the partial #govtshutdown ends. These back wages also apply to workers on the job without pay. pic.twitter.com/YkSJaRTTzk
— Ty Richardson (@TyrichardsonPC) January 16, 2019
They Could Get Paid Now If Democrats Would Be Reasonable
If Cardin and his Democrat colleagues were so concerned with the families of the 800,000 federal workers not working during the shutdown, they’d compromise on border security and fund the wall. That way the government employees could begin earning a paycheck again and get their back pay posthaste.
During his primetime address to the nation, President Trump urged Democrats “to stop the political games and come together and address the crisis we are facing.”
“Congress has a responsibility to protect the safety and security of the American people and it needs to meet that responsibility by providing the funding needed to secure the border,” he said.
Provide a relatively small amount of funding for a border wall your party once adamantly supported, and get government back to work. Sounds like a win-win.
what about the unemployment they collect while being laid off? the last shut down it was revealerd that thousands of federal employees recieved double pay because they not only got their back pay for days they did not work but they collected unemployment all the way thru it. I am torn i feel like if you do not go to work and accomplish something then you should not be paid for doing nothing by the tax payers, but i realize most federal employees are salaried so their hours do not really matter like an hourly employee when it comes to their paycheck. isay anyone who collected unemployment should be forced to pay it back it is only fair, if i was in their position in the private sectre i would be arrested for fraud if i collected unemployment and back pay for the same time frame!
This president is the best I ever experienced and I had my 80th birthday a long time ago. JFK and Reagan were also good.
Since Reagan, the operation of the Criminal (anti-Constitutional) cabal has become more and more open and obvious .
Pray that God continues to show favor on this administration and on our next generations.
It has been the Fascist Democrats from day one!
They said they wouldn’t fund the wall for any reason and so it is, they are punishing around a million people and inconveniencing millions of citizens for a few hundred illegal aliens whose illegal votes they want. Shades of Tammany Hall only far larger, so much larger in fact that comparing Tammany Hall to today’s Fascist Left Political machine is like comparing an M80 Firecracker to a 1MT Thermonuclear Warhead.
lcjg715, Pelosi figures she is going to be President within the next two years.
Remember, on April 14, 1865, a small group of conspirators set out to kill 3 people, President Lincoln, Vice-President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William H. Seward. That would mean the new President would have been Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the House.
If it happened today and the assassinations were successful, then Pelosi would become President.
Also, with the attitude the Fascist Left has about the popular vote, many Democrats consider the Speaker of the House as the highest legitimate officer in our government.
lcjg715 is so right. Pelosi and Schumer are big mouths that don’t make any sense, and it is pat time for them to go. They are plain down right EVIL, and I think they should have to house illegals, pay for thei food and medical, just for being as-holes.
Who the H__L does Pelosi think she is???? Since when does what the Speaker of the House want override the Presidential powers? She must think we now have TWO Presidents! Such a nutcase! I think Trump should start a Federal investigation into Pelosi and Schumer, because the obviously have agendas that don’t concern the average American. Get them out of Congress! So we can have peace in America again!
Can we stop medicare and Social Security and other socialist plots against america?
Mr. President I do honestly believe that PELOSI can be arrested for SEDITION as she has abrogated her OATH OF OFFICE to ” PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION AND STOP ALL ENEMIES FROM WITH OUT AS WELL AS WITH IN “! She is one of the ” WITH IN ENEMIES ” by refusing to do her job according to her OATH OF HER OFFICE an is just as GUILY OF TREASON HERE AS BENEDICT ARNOLD WAS IN BREACHING THE SECURITY OF THE UNION AS PELOSI IS RIGHT NOW AS WELL AS CRYING SCHUMER!
The President’s decision on back-pay for federal employees, again reveals that we not only have a brilliant decision maker, but one that is truly and sincerely focused on the good of the American citizen, not solely on the rich. The democrats, under the leadership of Pelosi and Schumer, have continued to prove that their attention is only for the rich and powerful through this group’s last “fake” seminar at vacation land, Puerto Rico. It is a perverse twist that the democrats no longer stand in unity with the common man, but with those who are social and financial criminals. Yet, they are pleased to falsely accuse out loyal President, and torment the whole American citizenry, just like the evil one they are serving, Satan himself. President Trump reminds all of us, in the words of St Michael, Chief Archangel, “Who is like unto God!” By Trump’s deeds and straightforward tweets, it is very clear that his faith and confidence in God is strong!, and that he is God’s servant for the good of all! It is time hopefully, that our Jehovah God will clear His Earth Place of all the wicked, that they will soon be eating their own poison!
Goes to show the world that President Trump has a plan…something the Demonrats and the liberal fake news don’t have the mental capacity to understand…
this is great and historical, pelosi is getting her crap shoved down her throat.
Hopefully those ‘non essentials’ will find other work. I don’t think they will be missed. Their departures would mean fewer Democrats in government work. Who knew there were so many.
Now would be a good time to get rid of some of the dead wood since it takes an act of congress to fire them. ‘Jus sayin!
Brilliant idea! Why give money to people who hate us???
Hmmmm … here is an idea: Let’s stop paying billions to countries where the leaders (and probably the people) hate Americans? We could provide enough funds for two or three hundred walls!
Here it is in a nutshell. The morons supposedly running this country are still getting a paycheck, stop paying them and I guarantee this stupid stuff will stop. This just goes to show you the socialistdemofascist party doesn’t give a diddle damn about this country. My opinion is none of them are good enough to represent the American people.
Doesn’t mention if it’s only paying the “essential” workers who are actually working. Those deemed to be non essential who are staying home shouldn’t get a dime. In fact, all federal gov’t employees who are not “essential” need to be fired permanently. I have no pity for the slothy federal gov’t worker with their gold plated taxpayer funded benefits and even more generous taxpayer funded golden pensions and retirement benefits. Gov’t jobs were never supposed to make on wealthy, they do now. Let’s replace 25% of gov’t jobs with volunteers, taking care of the parks, tour guides, education jobs… should all be 2 year volunteer stints…
pulling your hair out yet, pelosi? schumer must be freaking our wondering what to do and say. nothing, I think he is in hiding.
I would hope that the bill does not allow payment for those who do not show up for work. If they call in sick for more than 1 day they should not get paid.
*
When the rest of the American citizens get laid off from their jobs they do not get paid, if they collect unemployment it is a fraction of their normal pay and for days they are sick or unable to work the do not get unemployment.
what about the unemployment they collect while being laid off? the last shut down it was revealerd that thousands of federal employees recieved double pay because they not only got their back pay for days they did not work but they collected unemployment all the way thru it. I am torn i feel like if you do not go to work and accomplish something then you should not be paid for doing nothing by the tax payers, but i realize most federal employees are salaried so their hours do not really matter like an hourly employee when it comes to their paycheck. isay anyone who collected unemployment should be forced to pay it back it is only fair, if i was in their position in the private sectre i would be arrested for fraud if i collected unemployment and back pay for the same time frame!
This president is the best I ever experienced and I had my 80th birthday a long time ago. JFK and Reagan were also good.
Since Reagan, the operation of the Criminal (anti-Constitutional) cabal has become more and more open and obvious .
Pray that God continues to show favor on this administration and on our next generations.
It has been the Fascist Democrats from day one!
They said they wouldn’t fund the wall for any reason and so it is, they are punishing around a million people and inconveniencing millions of citizens for a few hundred illegal aliens whose illegal votes they want. Shades of Tammany Hall only far larger, so much larger in fact that comparing Tammany Hall to today’s Fascist Left Political machine is like comparing an M80 Firecracker to a 1MT Thermonuclear Warhead.
Who the H__L does Pelosi think she is???? Since when does what the Speaker of the House want override the Presidential powers? She must think we now have TWO Presidents! Such a nutcase! I think Trump should start a Federal investigation into Pelosi and Schumer, because the obviously have agendas that don’t concern the average American. Get them out of Congress! So we can have peace in America again!
lcjg715 is so right. Pelosi and Schumer are big mouths that don’t make any sense, and it is pat time for them to go. They are plain down right EVIL, and I think they should have to house illegals, pay for thei food and medical, just for being as-holes.
lcjg715, Pelosi figures she is going to be President within the next two years.
Remember, on April 14, 1865, a small group of conspirators set out to kill 3 people, President Lincoln, Vice-President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William H. Seward. That would mean the new President would have been Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the House.
If it happened today and the assassinations were successful, then Pelosi would become President.
Also, with the attitude the Fascist Left has about the popular vote, many Democrats consider the Speaker of the House as the highest legitimate officer in our government.
Can we stop medicare and Social Security and other socialist plots against america?
Mr. President I do honestly believe that PELOSI can be arrested for SEDITION as she has abrogated her OATH OF OFFICE to ” PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION AND STOP ALL ENEMIES FROM WITH OUT AS WELL AS WITH IN “! She is one of the ” WITH IN ENEMIES ” by refusing to do her job according to her OATH OF HER OFFICE an is just as GUILY OF TREASON HERE AS BENEDICT ARNOLD WAS IN BREACHING THE SECURITY OF THE UNION AS PELOSI IS RIGHT NOW AS WELL AS CRYING SCHUMER!
The President’s decision on back-pay for federal employees, again reveals that we not only have a brilliant decision maker, but one that is truly and sincerely focused on the good of the American citizen, not solely on the rich. The democrats, under the leadership of Pelosi and Schumer, have continued to prove that their attention is only for the rich and powerful through this group’s last “fake” seminar at vacation land, Puerto Rico. It is a perverse twist that the democrats no longer stand in unity with the common man, but with those who are social and financial criminals. Yet, they are pleased to falsely accuse out loyal President, and torment the whole American citizenry, just like the evil one they are serving, Satan himself. President Trump reminds all of us, in the words of St Michael, Chief Archangel, “Who is like unto God!” By Trump’s deeds and straightforward tweets, it is very clear that his faith and confidence in God is strong!, and that he is God’s servant for the good of all! It is time hopefully, that our Jehovah God will clear His Earth Place of all the wicked, that they will soon be eating their own poison!
Goes to show the world that President Trump has a plan…something the Demonrats and the liberal fake news don’t have the mental capacity to understand…
this is great and historical, pelosi is getting her crap shoved down her throat.
Hopefully those ‘non essentials’ will find other work. I don’t think they will be missed. Their departures would mean fewer Democrats in government work. Who knew there were so many.
Now would be a good time to get rid of some of the dead wood since it takes an act of congress to fire them. ‘Jus sayin!
Hmmmm … here is an idea: Let’s stop paying billions to countries where the leaders (and probably the people) hate Americans? We could provide enough funds for two or three hundred walls!
Brilliant idea! Why give money to people who hate us???
Here it is in a nutshell. The morons supposedly running this country are still getting a paycheck, stop paying them and I guarantee this stupid stuff will stop. This just goes to show you the socialistdemofascist party doesn’t give a diddle damn about this country. My opinion is none of them are good enough to represent the American people.
Doesn’t mention if it’s only paying the “essential” workers who are actually working. Those deemed to be non essential who are staying home shouldn’t get a dime. In fact, all federal gov’t employees who are not “essential” need to be fired permanently. I have no pity for the slothy federal gov’t worker with their gold plated taxpayer funded benefits and even more generous taxpayer funded golden pensions and retirement benefits. Gov’t jobs were never supposed to make on wealthy, they do now. Let’s replace 25% of gov’t jobs with volunteers, taking care of the parks, tour guides, education jobs… should all be 2 year volunteer stints…
pulling your hair out yet, pelosi? schumer must be freaking our wondering what to do and say. nothing, I think he is in hiding.
I would hope that the bill does not allow payment for those who do not show up for work. If they call in sick for more than 1 day they should not get paid.
*
When the rest of the American citizens get laid off from their jobs they do not get paid, if they collect unemployment it is a fraction of their normal pay and for days they are sick or unable to work the do not get unemployment.