Norton, House Democrats ask Trump administration to guarantee back pay to federal contract workers hurt by shutdown

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) on Thursday led a group of House Democrats in writing to Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russell Vought requesting he direct federal agencies to provide back pay to low- and middle-income employees of federal contractors who were furloughed or otherwise impacted by the government shutdown. This week, Norton introduced a bill to guarantee back pay to low-wage federally contracted retail, food, custodial and security service workers not getting paid during the shutdown.
In their letter, the Members wrote, “We have introduced legislation that would grant back pay to low-wage federally contracted retail, food, custodial and security service workers who are furloughed during the shutdown.  Even without that legislation, however, we believe federal agencies can provide back pay to these workers.… After past shutdowns, the federal government has not provided back pay to contract workers. In addition to our fight provide back pay to federal employees, we are committed to righting this wrong for contract workers…. Providing back pay to these low- and middle-income contract workers who are furloughed by their employers is the right thing to do, and it is in the federal government’s best interest to provide back pay to them.”