Rep. Adams on ‘Baseless’ Threats by Admin to Rob Furloughed Federal Workers of Backpay

October 8, 2025 Press Release CHARLOTTE, NC— Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) released a statement addressing the baseless threats by the White House that they will withhold backpay from furloughed federal employees after the federal government shutdown. North Carolina has 140,000 federal employees, including 7,000 in the 12 th District. In 2019, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which authorizes furloughed federal employees to receive backpay, passed Congress with near unanimous support and was signed into law by President Trump. “Federal law is clear—all furloughed federal employees receive backpay once the government shutdown ends. This law was signed by President Trump in 2019, and it should worry our country that the president can’t remember the policies he helped create,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Rather than trying to hold our federal workers hostage, there’s a simple solution to end the government shutdown. Speaker Mike Johnson needs to end House Republicans’ paid vacation, return to Washington, and meet Democrats at the bargaining table so we can pass a bipartisan bill that reopens the government and protects affordable healthcare for everyone.” Rep. Adams is a cosponsor on H.R. 5657 which expands backpay to federal contractors. Issues : Congressional Issues Jobs and the Economy National Security