Trump Conveniently Lands On New Legal Theory That He Claims Could Deprive Feds Of Backpay
At a time when Republicans want to turn the screws on government-loving Democrats and their natural aversion to shutdowns, the Trump administration has conveniently stumbled upon a new statutory interpretation that, it threatens, might deprive federal workers of backpay after the shutdown.
The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 guarantees that all federal workers are retroactively paid after a lapse in appropriations. The Trump administration, via a draft Office of Management and Budget memo, is leaking its plans to argue that that law only applied to the 2019 shutdown, and that Congress must appropriate money specifically to reimburse furloughed feds.
“The supposed ‘new legal analysis’ is, to use a technical legal term, horseshit,” former OMB General Counsel Sam Bagenstos posted on Bluesky. “What the law actually says is that when Congress enacts a law ending a lapse, furloughed employees get paid at the earliest date possible. Period.”
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who represents a disproportionate number of federal employees, is threatening legal action.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-conveniently-lands-legal-theory-210646051.html
Standard for Deadbeat Donny.