Back Pay Totals $2 Billion For Federal Workers

Furloughed federal employees are receiving $2 billion in back pay for the 16-day government shutdown in October, the Office of Management and Budget reported. About 850,000 federal workers were furloughed for at least part of the shutdown, resulting in 6.6 million lost workdays. Congress authorized back pay for all,  furloughed federal workers, and the OMB’s report is the first estimate of what that will cost. It does not include the cost of benefits, which would raise the total to $2.5 billion. In addition, the OMB estimated the cost of the shutdown would include $7 million in lost revenue from national parks and an undetermined amount for interest on late payments to contractors and other recipients.