Amid Government Shutdown, Kaine Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Provide Back Pay for Federal Contract Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the federal government shutdown, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) 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 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.

“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 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.”

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.

In addition to Kaine and Smith, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators 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. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07).

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.”

Full text of the bill is available here.

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