Mike Johnson Says Of Course' Furloughed Workers Should Be Paid, Breaking With Leaked White House Memo

"I hope that the furloughed workers receive back pay, of course. We have some extraordinary Americans who serve the federal government they serve valiantly and they work hard and they serve in these various agencies doing really important work, Johnson told a reporter."

"It is true that in previous shutdowns, many or most of them have been paid for the time that they were furloughed. But there is new legal analysis. I don't know the details. I just saw a headline this morning. I'm not read in on it, and I haven't spoken to the White House about it."

"But there are some legal analysts who are saying that that may not be appropriate or necessary in terms of the law requiring that back pay be provided. So I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion about that. But there are legal analysts who think that that is not something government should do. If that is true, that should turn up the urgency and the necessity of the Democrats doing the right thing hereeven more pain for more people. So we've got to figure it out."

A draft White House memo argued furloughed federal workers are not guaranteed compensation during the government shutdown. Mike Johnson said he hopes furloughed workers receive back pay and praised their service. He also noted that in previous shutdowns many furloughed workers were paid but cited new legal analysis suggesting back pay may not be legally required. Johnson said he had not reviewed the legal details or consulted the White House. He suggested debate over the legal question could increase pressure on Democrats and implied withholding back pay might be used as leverage to end the shutdown.

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