President Donald Trump has signed a funding package ending the partial government shutdown and authorizing back pay for federal employees who were furloughed during the lapse in appropriations, according to Federal News Network.
- Shutdown status: The partial shutdown is over after Trump signed the spending package, Federal News Network reported.
- Back pay: The package secures back pay for furloughed federal employees, Federal News Network said.
- Who decides pay during a shutdown: OPM guidance states that Congress must provide authority in law for furloughed employees to be paid for time missed during a shutdown; the signed package provides that authority, according to Federal News Network’s reporting on OPM guidance.
- Next steps for employees: Agencies will implement the law and process pay actions consistent with OPM guidance and agency payroll procedures, as reflected in OPM’s shutdown-related guidance cited by Federal News Network.
The development follows congressional action to clear a spending deal to reopen affected parts of the government. Federal News Network reported that the House passed the package before it went to the president for signature.
OPM has long advised agencies that, absent enacted legislation, furloughed employees generally cannot be paid for time not worked during a funding lapse. In its shutdown guidance, OPM emphasizes that Congress determines—through legislation—whether furloughed employees will receive pay for the shutdown period. Federal News Network reported that the newly signed package includes the necessary statutory authority to provide back pay.
For federal employees, the immediate impact is that furlough-related lost wages covered by the law should be restored through normal payroll processing once agencies apply the new funding and pay authorities. Employees should monitor their agency’s HR and payroll updates for timing, including any instructions for time and attendance corrections, premium pay implications, and how back pay will be reflected on earnings statements.
Workers who were required to report as “excepted” personnel during the shutdown period should also watch for agency guidance on how the funding package interacts with pay rules for employees who worked during the lapse, as agencies align payroll actions with OPM’s instructions and the enacted appropriations language.
For additional background on shutdown pay rules and common misconceptions, see FedBrief’s explainer: https://fedbrief.org/ (shutdown/pay coverage varies by enacted law and OPM guidance).
Source: Federal News Network — Mike Causey (Feb. 2026), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2026/02/house-passes-spending-deal-to-end-partial-shutdown-securing-back-pay-for-furloughed-feds/