Plan to Pay Excepted Feds Immediately Gains Momentum

With just days remaining until federal employees at unfunded agencies miss their second straight paycheck, an idea to compensate at least some of them promptly appears to be gaining traction on Capitol Hill. Two weeks ago, Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced the Shutdown Fairness Act (S. 113), which would make sure federal workers at unfunded agencies who are currently working without pay will get their paychecks on time, instead of after the government reopens. The measure would not compensate furloughed employees, although last week President Trump signed legislation to provide them with back pay after agencies reopen.