President Donald Trump has signed a funding package ending the partial government shutdown and authorizing back pay for federal employees who were furloughed, according to Federal News Network.
- Shutdown status: The partial shutdown is over following Trump’s signature on an appropriations package, Federal News Network reported.
- Back pay included: The legislation provides back pay for furloughed federal employees, according to Federal News Network.
- OPM guidance: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has told agencies that Congress determines back pay eligibility through legislation, and that agencies should follow the terms Congress sets for how furlough periods are handled, per OPM guidance cited by Federal News Network.
- Who’s affected: The back-pay provision applies to employees placed in furlough status during the shutdown; agencies will implement pay restoration consistent with the enacted bill and OPM direction, Federal News Network reported.
- What to watch next: Agencies typically issue internal payroll instructions after enactment; employees should monitor their agency HR/payroll updates and OPM shutdown-related guidance for timing and processing details.
The shutdown’s end restores funding and allows agencies to recall furloughed staff and resume normal operations. The back-pay provision is designed to make employees whole for the period they were ordered not to work due to a lapse in appropriations.
OPM’s guidance, as described by Federal News Network, underscores a key point for employees: back pay is not automatic unless Congress authorizes it. In practice, that means the details that matter—such as which dates are covered, how payroll systems will code the furlough period, and how quickly pay is issued—flow from the legislation and subsequent agency implementation.
Employees who were required to work during the shutdown as “excepted” personnel should also pay attention to agency payroll notices. In past shutdowns, excepted employees have received pay once appropriations were enacted; the specific treatment depends on the statutory language Congress passes and OPM’s implementing guidance.
For general reference on how shutdown-related pay issues intersect with federal pay rules and timing, employees can consult FedInfo’s federal pay resources (https://fedinfo.org/).
Source: Federal News Network — Mike Causey (https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2026/02/house-passes-spending-deal-to-end-partial-shutdown-securing-back-pay-for-furloughed-feds/)