Exclusive Management

USDA transfers $13B into ‘slush fund’ for future tariff relief

The move has left the department incapable of delivering some mandatory farmer aid programs, and is raising concerns in Congress.

Workforce

Shutdown furloughs will permanently cost the economy at least $7 billion, CBO says

Unlike most of the shutdown's economic impacts, the lost productivity from feds not working cannot be reversed.

Breaking News Workforce

Shutdown layoffs indefinitely blocked following new court injunction

Trump administration attorney says guarantee of back pay justifies issuing widespread reductions in force, but judge finds the layoffs unlawful.

Workforce

Republicans float paying some feds as Dems maintain shutdown approach

A union calling for the shutdown's immediate end is not deterring Democrats, though they continue negotiating a bipartisan measure to pay all workers immediately.

Pay & Benefits

Dueling plans to pay feds on-time fail in Senate, though a bipartisan path forward appears

Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., appeared to agree to negotiations Thursday afternoon on a plan to pay federal employees and potentially contractors amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Management

Shutdown is ‘holding my veterans hostage,’ VA chief says

Some critical services are paused and many employees are not getting paid, Doug Collins says, though he will not guarantee their back pay.

Management

Senate to vote on immediately paying feds working during shutdown as funding deal remains elusive

Democrats appear to oppose the idea, while Republicans suggest a long-term stopgap bill is possible if government does not reopen soon.

Workforce

Carpools, side jobs and food banks: How feds working through the shutdown are navigating delayed pay

Employees working without pay are worried about piling bills and distractions in jobs with no room for error.

Breaking News Management

Judge blocks shutdown layoffs after finding Trump's actions are likely illegal

The Trump administration is leveraging the shutdown to declare "the laws don't apply to them anymore," judge says, adding, "they can't do that."

Workforce

As White House promises more federal layoffs, Democrats say ‘we’ll see them in court’

Trump suggests more cuts coming Friday as lawmakers vow to prevent "terrorism" against federal workers.

Updated Workforce

Trump’s promised shutdown layoffs lead to at least 4,200 cuts at seven agencies

More RIFs possible as the Trump administration is following through on its threat to leverage the shutdown to implement federal workforce reductions.

Pay & Benefits

Democrats float immediately paying feds working through shutdown as Congress again rejects bill to reopen government

In addition to the military, some senators say air traffic controllers and other civil servants should get their paychecks on time even as shutdown drags on.

Exclusive Workforce

On Tuesday, the Trump admin said furloughed feds were not guaranteed back pay. On Wednesday, it sent notices saying they were

Just one day after taking a different argument, the Trump administration notes federal law guarantees back pay for employees sent home during a shutdown.

Updated Pay & Benefits

OMB deletes reference to law guaranteeing backpay to furloughed feds from shutdown guidance

An Office of Management and Budget FAQ document now states that only excepted employees forced to work without pay are guaranteed backpay at the conclusion of a lapse in appropriations.