Federal workers across the country are being sent home because of the government shutdown, and now Donald Trump is floating a plan to deny them back pay.
These are the people who keep our country running: meteorologists who track storms, FEMA staff who rebuild communities, scientists and park rangers who protect our environment.
And Trump wants to make sure they don’t get paid for it.
Trump is saying these workers don’t deserve back pay, even though the law guarantees it during a shutdown. It’s not just wrong — it’s cruel.
He and his allies are punishing the people who put our country first, the ones who keep working through disasters, crises, and shutdowns without complaint.
As SEEC Vice Chair Rep. Don Beyer (VA) put it, “The Trump Administration is trying to frighten federal employees and their families as a negotiating tactic. That is despicable.”
That’s why SEEC PAC is fighting to take back the House in 2026. To stop Trump’s cruelty, defend those who serve, and rebuild a government that works for everyone.