Amid Government Shutdown, Sen. Smith, Rep. Pressley Introduce Bill to Provide Back Pay for Federal Contract Workers, Including Low-Wage Food Service and Custodial Staff

WASHINGTON, DC - Following the federal government shutdown, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks when the federal government is shutdown. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers-including janitorial, food, and security services workers-have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown. The bill is co-led by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would ensure federal contract workers, including low-wage service workers providing security, food and janitorial services, are fairly compensated for the wages and benefits lost due to a lapse in appropriations, also known as a government shutdown. It is estimated that more than 327,000 federal contractors make under $15/per hour.

"This is about fairness-contract workers and their families should not miss a paycheck because of a government shutdown they did nothing to cause," said Sen. Smith. "Many federal contractors work in jobs that are important for government operations, providing security, food service and janitorial work.  These are often lower-wage jobs, with many workers living paycheck to paycheck. These workers can't afford to go without, and they shouldn't have to. In past shutdowns, contract workers haven't received back pay at the end of a government shutdown like regular government employees. And it's time we right that wrong."

"Government shutdowns are destabilizing events with devastating consequences for everyone-especially for the thousands of low-wage service workers and their families. With Republicans choosing to shut down the government rather than work with Democrats to protect the lives and livelihoods of workers they represent, our bill would help ensure that federal contractors harmed by Republicans' cruel games are made whole," said Congresswoman Pressley. "As a former hospitality worker who knows what it is to live paycheck-to-paycheck, I'm proud to join my colleagues in pushing this bill forward."

"From cafeteria workers and maintenance staff to security and construction workers, federal contractor employees do essential jobs for our government. These employees do not deserve to lose their paychecks due to a political dispute they had nothing to do with. That's why we're fighting to ensure that these hardworking people be made whole after this Republican-driven shutdown ends," said Senator Van Hollen.

"From taking care of our nation's parks to keeping our office buildings safe, federal contractors play vital roles in keeping our government running," said Senator Kaine."I was proud to successfully lead legislation in 2019-the last time Trump closed our government-to secure back pay for federal employees during government shutdowns. As Americans find themselves in yet another Trump shutdown, I'm working with my colleagues on this legislation to provide our dedicated federal contractors peace of mind when it comes to their finances."

"This Administration's witch hunt against our patriotic civil servants continues. Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House. They shut down of the government because of their own incompetence - they haven't brought down grocery costs, they haven't brought down housing costs, they haven't brought down health insurance costs. It's an absolute disgrace. This Republican shutdown hurts our federal workers - my constituents - all of whom this Administration has cruelly targeted. This Republican shutdown also hurts the contractors in Maryland and across the country that help provide critical services for Americans. And most of all, it hurts the people they serve: the American people. Just like civil servants, federal contractors working on behalf of their government must be paid," said Senator Alsobrooks.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would:

• Provide contract workers, including low-wage service workers, with back pay (and restored paid leave benefits, if used), after a government shutdown,
• Cover costs associated with back pay for workers in an amount equal to their weekly compensation up to $1,442, (250% of the federal poverty level for a family of four), and
• Require the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report on federal contractors accessing back pay.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Kaine, Warner, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Padilla, Duckworth, Durbin, Baldwin, Warren, Heinrich, Blumenthal, Markey, Sanders, Rosen, Hirono, Klobuchar, Shaheen, Whitehouse, Wyden, Schatz, Gillibrand, Fetterman, Cortez Masto, Gallego, Booker, Schiff, Blunt Rochester, Lujan, King, Kim, Kelly, Merkley and Slotkin.

The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Iron Workers International, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), UNITE HERE and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

"A government shutdown hurts every community. Federally contracted workers may never see backpay when Washington politicians turn their backs on them, including security officers protecting our monuments and janitors keeping courthouses clean," said SEIU International President April Verrett. "Our leaders need to respect the essential workers who keep this country running in good times and bad. Congress should pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 now so every government worker doesn't have their lives turned upside down during another government shutdown."

"The IAM Union represents tens of thousands of federal contract workers who will be furloughed or forced to work without pay in the event of a government shutdown. These men and women work side-by-side with federal workers performing jobs that are absolutely vital to the government and to the people of the United States," said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. "We applaud Senators Smith, Kaine, Warner, Van Hollen, and Alsobrooks for leading the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act to ensure federal contract workers are compensated for wages lost during a shutdown. The IAM Union is proud to join the fight to ensure these contract workers are made whole should a government shutdown become a reality."

A copy of the bill text can be found here.

In 2019, Sen. Smith led the Senate effort to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who went many weeks without a paycheck during the 35-day government shutdown.