The Trump administration denies back pay to over 650,000 furloughed workers, defying a 2019 law and court orders.

The Trump administration is withholding back pay assurances for furloughed federal workers amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, reclassifying extended furloughs and omitting the term "furloughed" from official notices. While a 2019 law mandates back pay, new communications suggest only "excepted" employees—those deemed essential—will be paid, leaving eligibility to agency discretion. Over 650,000 workers face financial hardship, with salary payments down $15.7 billion. The administration is challenging the law’s authority and defying court orders on food assistance, raising concerns about deliberate pressure on workers and potential financial gain for Trump.