On First Day Employees are Missing Paychecks, Udall & Heinrich Fight to Protect Federal Workers and Contractors Stiffed Out of Pay Due to Trump Shutdown

Statement

As hundreds of thousands of federal workers miss their first paychecks today due to the Trump shutdown, the U.S. Senate passed a bill cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich that ensures that impacted federal and other government workers will receive their back pay. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, S.24, would guarantee that affected employees -- including those forced to work without pay and those locked out of their jobs during the shutdown -- will get paid as soon federal agencies reopen. The bill also clarifies that employees who had previously scheduled approved leave occurring during the shutdown may take that leave without undue penalty. The House of Representatives also passed S. 24 today, sending it to the president for his signature.

According to public data, over 10,000 federal workers have been impacted by the shutdown in New Mexico, many of whom are furloughed or working without pay. New Mexico was recently ranked as the state most vulnerable to the impacts of the shutdown due to its significant federal workforce and the indispensable role the federal government plays in the state's economy.

"The Trump shutdown has been a raw deal for New Mexicans, and they are being hit hard as the consequences for this act of political extortion continue to ripple out across our state," said Udall. "Today, twenty-one days into this Trump shutdown, working families all across New Mexico will keep paying a steep price as thousands of federal workers and their families are stiffed out of their pay. That's 21 days of economic anxiety and financial insecurity -- 21 days that New Mexicans have spent wondering how they will make their mortgage or rent payments, and put food on the table to feed their families. This legislation would relieve them of some measure of uncertainty by guaranteeing that they receive back pay as soon as the government reopens. Federal employees work hard to serve our country, day in and day out. They don't deserve to have their lives thrown into chaos because the president has chosen to hold their paychecks hostage. I urge President Trump to stop playing politics with the livelihoods of working families and this end this shutdown now so that they can get paid their rightful wages immediately."

"New Mexico's dedicated federal workers shouldn't have to pay the price for President Trump's shutdown. It's shameful that their lives have been upended by the failure of our president to allow us to meet one of our most basic duties--to keep the government open and working for the American people," said Heinrich. "We must show our public servants and their families the respect they deserve by guaranteeing that they are made whole as quickly as possible and receive their full pay and benefits once we reopen the government."

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