As the U.S. government’s 2025 shutdown stretches into its 41st day, and several federal workers await relief, the Senate backed the funding bill to reopen the government on Monday. The stopgap measure not only funds agencies through January 2026 but reaffirms retroactive compensation for workers sidelined since Oct. 1.

Back Pay Process For Furloughed & Essential Federal Workers After Shutdown

At the heart of this process is the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA), a bipartisan safeguard ensuring “all federal employees shall receive pay for the period of the lapse in appropriations” starting after Dec. 22, 2018.

The package still requires approval from the House of Representatives and President Donald Trump. Processing of the pay begins immediately upon the bill’s enactment.

OPM and the Department of the Treasury direct agencies to recalibrate payroll systems, treating furlough days as paid hours for salary, overtime, and benefits accrual, per OPM’s updated shutdown furlough guidance (January 2024).

Furloughed workers accrue annual and sick leave as if ...