Shutdown Stalemate: Back Pay and Health Care at Stake

The Trump administration has warned that some federal workers furloughed during the government shutdown may not receive back pay, sparking criticism from lawmakers. A memo from the Office of Management and Budget suggests that a 2019 law guaranteeing retroactive pay does not apply to employees who were temporarily asked not to report to work. President Donald Trump stated that back pay "depends on who we're talking about" and that some workers "don't deserve to be taken care of". The top Democrat in the US House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, disagreed, saying that the law is clear and that every furloughed federal employee is entitled to back pay. The shutdown, which began on October 1, has left around 750,000 employees without their regular pay. Republicans and Democrats are at a standoff in the Senate, with Democrats pushing for a resolution that addresses health care and Republicans seeking "clean" legislation that only deals with the federal budget. The OMB memo has been criticized by Democratic lawmakers, with Senator Mark Warner calling it "totally illegal". Some Republicans have also expressed skepticism, with Senator John Thune stating that he expects furloughed workers to be paid.

The White House has adjusted its strategy regarding mass layoffs of federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown. Initially planning to swiftly roll out layoffs, the administration is now delaying the process due to growing concerns among Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials about potential political backlash. Despite this, the White House still intends to follow through on the threat if negotiations on ending the shutdown remain stalled. The decision to delay layoffs is seen as an attempt to maintain a favorable narrative on the shutdown and avoid appearing 'gleeful' about job losses. Republican lawmakers are increasingly wary of the potential negative impact of mass firings on the party's messaging and leverage. Meanwhile, President Trump has suggested that certain furloughed federal employees may not receive back pay, a departure from precedent.

The article discusses the ongoing shutdown fight between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats leveraging health care politics to their advantage. Democrats, led by Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, are demanding that Republicans agree to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies as a condition of any government funding deal. They believe that President Trump, who has been sensitive to the political perils of health care issues for Republicans, could be the key to winning a commitment on the subsidies. Despite some Republican divisions on the issue, G.O.P. leaders remain resistant to extending the subsidies, leading to a stubborn impasse. Democrats remain confident in their position, with not a single additional Democrat crossing over to support Republicans' stopgap bill to reopen the government.