Chris Van Hollen

President Donald Trump signed legislation Wednesday afternoon that guarantees back pay for federal employees impacted by the partial government shutdown.

In today’s Federal Newscast, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is asking the Office of Personnel Management how it’s making sure federal employees furloughed due to the government shutdown are still receiving healthcare coverage.

The IRS’s decision to begin this year’s tax filing season on time, and to start issuing tax refunds despite a partial government shutdown, appears legally sound, according to former government officials, but raises logistical questions from lawmakers and current agency employees.

In today’s Federal Newscast, a review by the Center for American Progress looks at how much money federal workers could lose during the partial government shutdown.

Furloughed and excepted federal employees said the government shutdown is prompting them to make tough decisions about their bills, mortgage and family obligations.

New legislation from several senators would grant back pay to low-wage federal contractors during the partial government shutdown.

Members in the House and Senate have reintroduced legislation that would guarantee back pay for excepted and furloughed federal employees during this and any government shutdown. The Senate version clarifies employees would receive pay as soon as agencies reopen, regardless of payroll schedules.

A package of bills from House Democrats would reopen government, provide full-year funding for most federal agencies and give civilian employees a pay raise in 2019.

The Office of Management and Budget has made a partial government shutdown official. Agencies have been instructed to execute plans to “begin an orderly shutdown.”

The House has passed its own continuing resolution that would fund all of government through Feb. 8 and provide $5 billion toward the southern border. The CR is reportedly a tough sell in the Senate, setting up further anxiety and uncertainty ahead of Friday’s partial shutdown deadline.