Heinrich, Luján Condemn Republicans for Refusing to Pay All New Mexico Federal Workers, Contractors, & Service Members During Trump’s Shutdown

Senate Republicans blocked Democrats' legislation to pay all federal workers during Trump's shutdown

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) released the following statements after Senate Republicans blocked Democrats' legislation to ensure all federal employees - including essential and furloughed federal workers and service members - and federal contractors receive back pay during Donald Trump's shutdown.

"This shutdown is entirely of Donald Trump's making, and New Mexico's working families are paying the price - missing paychecks, delayed services, and mounting financial stress. No president should have the power to hold workers' livelihoods hostage to advance a political agenda. Republicans blocked Democrats' plan to guarantee back pay for all federal workers and service members - a slap in the face to hardworking families," said Heinrich. "I'll keep fighting for the dignity of work and for every hardworking person in New Mexico. It's time for Republicans to get serious, come to the table, and work with Democrats to pass a deal that lowers health care costs, reopens the government, and restores stability and security for New Mexico families."

"In New Mexico and across the country, our federal workers, servicemembers, and contractors dedicate their lives to serving the American people. These hardworking Americans should not bear the brunt of the pain Republicans are inflicting through this shutdown. Yet Republicans blocked legislation that would ensure every federal employee, servicemember, and contractor is paid - and prevent the Trump administration from carrying out mass firings - while the government remains shut down,"said Luján.

Heinrich and Luján introduced the True Shutdown Fairness Act, legislation that will immediately restart pay and provide backpay for all excepted and furloughed federal workers, service members, and federal contractors during the current Trump shutdown. The legislation also prohibits any Reductions In Force (RIF) while the federal government is shut down. Federal employees are already ensured retroactive pay after a shutdown ends due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, legislation Heinrich cosponsored and passed into law in 2019, but that has been questioned by President Trump, who has peddled an alternative, unlawful reading of the law.

Senate Republicans blocked the True Shutdown Fairness Act.

Heinrich and Luján also introduced the Military and Federal Employee Protection Act, legislation that will provide a one-time appropriation for the salaries of members of the military, federal employees, and federal contractors from the start of Trump's shutdown to the date of enactment. Specifically, the bill:

• Ensures that both furloughed employees and employees designated as excepted receive their standard pay if it was interrupted due to Trump's shutdown;

• Requires that federal workers get paid within one week after enactment; and

• Prohibits this appropriation from being used for any purpose besides paying salaries.

Senate Republicans blocked the Military and Federal Employee Protection Act.

The True Shutdown Fairness Act is led by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). In addition to Heinrich and Luján, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).

The legislation is endorsed by American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Partnership for Public Service, and The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

The text of the True Shutdown Fairness Act is here.

The Military and Federal Employee Protection Act is led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.). In addition to Heinrich and Luján, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Angus King (I-Maine), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

The text of the Military and Federal Employee Protection Act is here.

In addition to the True Shutdown Fairness Act, Heinrich and Luján are cosponsors of the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act, legislation to ensure New Mexico 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 Trump's shutdown.

Heinrich is also a cosponsor of the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act, legislation to protect New Mexico federal workers, federal contractor employees, and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during Trump's shutdown.

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