Top Republican Joins Democrats On Key Issue
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has once again broken ranks with her own party—this time joining Senate Democrats in a letter demanding that the Trump administration provide back pay to furloughed federal employees impacted by the ongoing government shutdown.
The letter, sent Wednesday to White House Budget Director Russell Vought, urges the administration to honor the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, a law signed by President Trump guaranteeing back pay once the shutdown ends.
“The law is clear,” the lawmakers wrote. “All affected federal employees—whether essential or furloughed—are entitled to back pay once the government reopens.”
The appeal was led by Democratic Sens. Angela Alsobrooks, Chris Van Hollen, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, along with Murkowski as the lone Republican signer.
⚖️ White House Pushes Back
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), however, disputes their reading of the law.
In recent guidance, the OMB cited updated language that ties back pay to “the enactment of appropriations Acts ending the lapse.”
In plain terms, that means federal employees can only be paid once Congress passes and the President signs a funding bill.
Even the IRS briefly told its furloughed staff they would be paid later—but then reversed that statement—leaving nearly 2.2 million federal workers uncertain about their financial future.
💼 Democrats Push Politics, Johnson Defends Trump Team
Democrats and Murkowski claim the confusion is “causing unnecessary stress” among government employees. Their letter calls on Vought to “immediately clarify” that back pay will be issued.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) took a different stance, saying the administration has no legal duty to compensate furloughed employees during a shutdown.
“There are legal analysts who believe the government is not required to do that,” Johnson told reporters. “If that’s true, it only increases the urgency for Democrats to stop playing politics and fund the government.”
🧩 Murkowski’s Split Draws Conservative Criticism
Sen. Murkowski, who has a long record of breaking with her party, accused the Trump administration of taking “punitive actions” toward the federal workforce. She warned that the OMB’s decisions could “jeopardize agency missions” and demanded a reversal on the back pay issue.
Her decision to side with Democrats has already sparked backlash from conservatives who argue that Trump’s shutdown strategy is about accountability and fiscal discipline, not punishment.
