Thousands of federal workers remain in limbo as the US government shutdown continues, with an estimated 750,000 employees furloughed and hundreds of thousands more working without pay. Union leaders say workers are being “held hostage by a political dispute” as lawmakers remain deadlocked over funding.
President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that furloughed employees might not automatically receive back pay, despite legal guarantees. He said, “There are some people that don’t deserve to be taken care of, and we’ll take care of them in a different way,” fueling unease across federal offices.
The administration has also warned of mass firings if Democrats do not compromise. “If this keeps going on, it’ll be substantial. And a lot of those jobs will never come back,” Trump told reporters. Meanwhile, Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, announced layoffs had begun, though details on affected workers remain unclear.
Federal employees have expressed growing concern about the security of their jobs and paychecks. Priscilla Novak, a federal researcher furloughed for the third time in her career, said this is the first instance of mass firing threats. “I’ve been checking my email every day to see if I’m fired yet,” she said.
Peter Farruggia, a furloughed CDC employee and AFGE Local 2883 chair, described the situation as relentless. “Even before the shutdown, it’s just been one thing after another,” he said. Farruggia added that uncertainty over his next paycheck is daunting. “At least I paid rent this month, so that was probably the most important thing. If other bills go by the wayside, it is what it is, and I have no other options,” he explained.
Brent Barron, president of the National Council of Field Labor Locals at the Department of Labor, said confusion and anxiety are widespread. Many workers are unsure whether they are furloughed or will continue to have a job. About three-quarters of the labor department staff are furloughed, leaving employees struggling to focus on their work.
The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, signed into law by Trump in 2019, guarantees retroactive back pay for all federal workers once a shutdown ends. Barron criticized the administration for ignoring the law. “It baffles me that this administration can flaunt a law and say they don’t have to follow it,” he said. Labor unions and watchdog groups have urged the OMB to ensure all furloughed employees receive back pay, warning that attempts to withhold pay appear designed to inflict political pain.
Vought, a key architect of the rightwing Project 2025 plan, has openly stated in the past that the goal is to put officials “through trauma” to reduce government capacity. As mass layoffs loom, federal courts have demanded that officials provide specifics on any layoff plans, the agencies affected, and whether employees have returned to work to carry out reductions.
Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIO transportation trades department, described the shutdown as vindictive. “The American people and the workers who keep this country running are being held hostage by a political dispute they have nothing to do with,” he said. He added that repeated shutdowns harm the economy, public safety, and citizens.
TSA employees, required to work without pay to maintain airport security, face particular stress. Cameron Cochems, vice-president of AFGE Local 1127, said many lower-paid and newer employees are anxious about missing paychecks. Some have sought low-interest loans to manage bills. “It feels like a train coming, and every day it gets closer. Once the paycheck doesn’t come, people cannot focus on their jobs,” Cochems said.
Threats to withhold back pay have heightened anxiety, especially for single parents and those living paycheck to paycheck. “It feels like they are intentionally using us as political pawns,” Cochems said. Novak emphasized the impact on government operations, noting that a strong civil service is essential to providing services effectively. “Furloughed workers want to go back to work. Congress needs to pass a budget,” she said.
