Pay for Some

As a possible government shutdown approaches, so too does the possibility of federal employees being furloughed and stuck without a paycheck. But some government workers could continue to receive their salaries as usual if new legislation garners congressional support.

According to guidance from the Office of Personnel Management, excepted employees will be reimbursed for work performed during a shutdown, but paychecks will not be issued until appropriations are available. All other workers will be furloughed without pay, though Congress could decide later to reimburse them for that time.

The last time the government shut down in 1995 and 1996, for 27 days at an overall cost of $1.4 billion, furloughed federal employees were paid retroactively for the time they were off the job.

Like workers deemed essential, military personnel are required to work through a shutdown and will continue to earn pay during that period. They will not be reimbursed for services performed after April 8 until Congress passes appropriations, however.

Several lawmakers are hoping to shelter service members and some Defense Department civilians from a lapse in pay.

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, on Tuesday introduced legislation that would provide appropriations to cover pay and allowances for military personnel during a shutdown. The bill also includes a provision that would allow Defense to continue to pay civilians or contractors working in support of service members.

"While we continue to debate the budget here in Washington, we must do everything to ensure that our service members and their families get the support they deserve," said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., one of the bill's co-sponsors. "They should not have to worry about getting paid on time. This legislation will make sure our service members are taken care of throughout this important budget debate."

Rep. Louis Gohmert, R-Texas, has sponsored a similar bill in the House. That legislation covers pay only for active-duty and reserve personnel, however.

Some lawmakers are calling on Congress to suspend its own pay in the event of a shutdown. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., in February introduced legislation that would suspend pay for lawmakers and the president if appropriations were unavailable for more than 24 hours. The bill also would prohibit salaries from being paid retroactively. The proposal passed the Senate in March, but has been rejected by House lawmakers.

"They want to cut spending, but they're unwilling to cut their own pay," Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said in a statement on the Senate floor on Tuesday. "If there is a government shutdown and we tell dedicated federal employees that they're not going to get paid, that they're nonessential, well the fact that we couldn't stop a shutdown shows we're nonessential."