Leaked memo shows Trump plans to stiff 750k shutdown workers

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

October 7, 2025 6:50AM ET


A leaked White House draft memo suggests that the Trump administration is actively considering stiffing as many as 750,000 federal workers and denying them compensation while furloughed amid the ongoing government shutdown, according to an Axios report published Tuesday.

As many as 750,000 federal workers are projected to be furloughed for every day of the shutdown – now in its seventh day – according to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

While a 2019 law guarantees furloughed federal employees retroactive pay, the leaked White House draft memo – described to Axios by three insiders – reveals that the Trump administration has a different interpretation of the law that may allow furloughed federal workers to be denied backpay.

"Does this law cover all these furloughed employees automatically?” said a senior White House official, speaking with Axios on the condition of anonymity. “The conventional wisdom is: yes, it does. Our view is: no, it doesn't.” The 2019 law is known as the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA), and was signed into law during the previous government shutdown in 2018-19, the longest shutdown in United States’ history.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2674161155/

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And then people complain about laws being hundreds or even 1000s of pages long. This law was 2 pages.

It was one of the first laws passed after Democrats retook the House in the 2018 election (after having lost it in the 2010 election).

Link to the law - S.24 - Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (introduced 1/3/19 and signed by 45 on 1/16/19 after passing the Senate by "voice vote" and passing the House 411 - 7)

[KS Toronado]

1. Appears dumpie is guaranteeing 750,000 federal workers

will only vote Democratic from now on.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Let's hope so

because I know before I retired, I had some pre-45 (Raygun and Limpballs humpers) co-workers.

[SKKY]

10. You would think so, but I have several co-workers that are fully drunk on the Kool-Aid...

...and would vote for him even if they all got fired. Like the late great Rick James once said, "Cult. It's a hell of a drug."

[NotHardly]

22. This "threat" could trigger a Federal Flu in those 750,000 Fed workers

Seriously, the threat to stiff these Federal workers, I believe, should cause those workers to take whatever retaliation by those very workers they deem appropriate. This should not be allowed to ‘scare’ them into compliance. When threatened by a predator, one needs to act/respond accordingly … the bully who tries to take your lunch money should be taught a lesson rather than being surrendered to.

[mopinko]

2. will they also stiff the ppl who r working w/o pay?

air traffic controllers r already starting to not show up. the tower in burbank was reported empty yesterday.
if i were working w/o pay, i’d assume they’re gonna f w that back pay.

[Ray Bruns]

3. So it's Trump business as usual.

[PatSeg]

21. Yeah, he's going to run out of people to screw over

[UpInArms]

4. Of course he is

Stiffing workers is one of his specialties

At least 60 lawsuits, along with hundreds of liens, judgments, and other government filings reviewed by the USA TODAY NETWORK, document people who have accused Trump and his businesses of failing to pay them for their work. Among them: a dishwasher in Florida. A glass company in New Jersey. A carpet company. A plumber. Painters. Forty-eight waiters. Dozens of bartenders and other hourly workers at his resorts and clubs, coast to coast. Real estate brokers who sold his properties. And, ironically, several law firms that once represented him in these suits and others.

Trump’s companies have also been cited for 24 violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act since 2005 for failing to pay overtime or minimum wage, according to U.S. Department of Labor data. That includes 21 citations against the defunct Trump Plaza in Atlantic City and three against the also out-of-business Trump Mortgage LLC in New York. Both cases were resolved by the companies agreeing to pay back wages.

In addition to the lawsuits, the review found more than 200 mechanic’s liens — filed by contractors and employees against Trump, his companies or his properties claiming they were owed money for their work — since the 1980s. The liens range from a $75,000 claim by a Plainview, N.Y., air conditioning and heating company to a $1 million claim from the president of a New York City real estate banking firm. On just one project, Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, records released by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in 1990 show that at least 253 subcontractors weren’t paid in full or on time, including workers who installed walls, chandeliers and plumbing.

… snip …

Trump and his daughter Ivanka, in an interview with USA TODAY, shrugged off the lawsuits and other claims of non-payment. If a company or worker he hires isn’t paid fully, the Trumps said, it’s because The Trump Organization was unhappy with the work.

“Let’s say that they do a job that’s not good, or a job that they didn’t finish, or a job that was way late. I’ll deduct from their contract, absolutely,” Trump said. “That’s what the country should be doing.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/06/09/donald-trump-unpaid-bills-republican-president-laswuits/85297274/

If anyone could not see this coming, they just haven’t been paying attention

[brakester]

12. When they were offered

that deal during DODGY, I immediately thought anyone who took that, was a FOOL!

He has been ripping off workers and other companies for longer than 45 years.

How does he keep getting away with it, and how can people keep believing the Con??¿??

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!

[KS Toronado]

13. Here you go, see you Tuesday, same Bat time & channel

[Wiz Imp]

19. I too was skeptical of the deferred resignation deal from DOGE

But by all accounts, the Trump administration actually followed through on that and paid the people who took it as they said they would.

[vapor2]

5. He'll pocket the money

[samsingh]

6. i feel bad for them - but i wonder how many of them voted for trump or declined

to vote for a mixed heritage woman?

[RussBLib]

8. Mixed-heritage people....

....just might be the ones that can save us. Nobody has "pure blood." Even the most virulent white supremacists are going to have some mixed blood somewhere back up the line.

My (Anglo) nephew married a Korean woman and their daughter is just about the cutest thing ever.

[Traildogbob]

7. He Stiffs workers

Just like he stiffs little girls. They let you do that when you are famous (and murdering dictators)
With complete immunity gifted you from a bought Supreme Court.

[Jughead]

11. 750,000?

750,000 Federal workers affect about 5 million Americans.

[FakeNoose]

14. There will be so many lawsuits! Oh my Lord....

[kimbutgar]

15. How does this idiot think he will have a great economy when he doesn't pay people who pay for goods

And services. Obviously that person who took his economics class in college didn’t give him the notes they took. this is economics 101. High unemployment and lack of purchasing power leads to shut down businesses and it becomes a freakin dam of economic collapse !

[Wiz Imp]

20. The unemployment rate will definitely already rise in October and the jobs numbers will decline

as most of those federal employees who took the deferred resignation deal came off the books at the end of September.

[live love laugh]

16. Crazy that it's not even his money--he just gets off on screwing others.

[COL Mustard]

17. See you in court, Mr. President.

And all your minions too!

[Bayard]

18. He does see it as his money

All part of the grift plan.