The question of when will federal employees be paid is now gaining urgent attention following the end of the longest‑ever U.S. government shutdown. With the funding lapse beginning on October 1, 2025, and finally resolved in mid‑November, thousands of civilian federal workers and contractors are asking: when will federal employees be paid?
What Happened: Shutdown, Funding, and Reopening
The shuttering of the federal government began after Congress failed to pass full‑year appropriations for fiscal year 2026. On November 12, 2025, the government reopened when funding legislation was signed into law.
Under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA), both employees who were furloughed and those who worked without pay during a lapse in appropriations are entitled to retroactive pay once funding is restored.
A memorandum from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), dated November 12, indicates that civilian federal agencies should administer pay, leave and benefits for employees affected by the lapse beginning on October 1.
Key Points Summary
- The shutdown lasted from October 1 to November 12, 2025 (43 days).
- The law (GEFTA) means employees must be made whole for the unpaid period.
- Agencies are processing back pay on a staggered schedule, based on payroll systems.
- Some employees will receive back pay for the full shutdown (Oct 1‑Nov 15) while others will first get pay for October only.
Scheduled Payments and “Superchecks”
Here is how the payment rollout is structured across different agencies:
Projected Timeline
- Some agencies (e.g., the General Services Administration and OPM) are set to process back pay beginning Saturday, November 15, 2025, covering base pay for October.
- A second group (e.g., the Department of Energy, the Department of Veterans Affairs) are projected to pay on Sunday, November 16.
- A third set (e.g., the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) are scheduled Monday, November 17.
- A final tranche of agencies (Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Labor, Treasury and the Small Business Administration) are expected to receive back pay covering the full period (Oct 1–Nov 15) on Wednesday, November 19.
What the Pay Covers
- For most agencies in the early tranche: the retroactive pay covers the period from October 1 to November 1 (i.e., first month or so of shutdown) as a first step.
- For some agencies, the payment will cover the entire shutdown period (October 1 – November 15) in one “supercheck.”
Checklist of Important Dates
- Nov 15, 2025: Some agencies begin paying back pay.
- Nov 16, 2025: More agencies pay base pay for October.
- Nov 17, 2025: Next tranche of agencies pay.
- Nov 19, 2025: Some agencies complete full‑period pay.
Additional Considerations
- The back pay must be issued “as soon as possible” once appropriations are restored — a mandate of GEFTA.
- Pay disparities may occur due to different payroll processors and systems across agencies.
- Agencies are also handling leave, benefits and any other HR effects tied to the shutdown.
What This Means for You & What to Do
If you are a federal civilian employee (furloughed or working during the shutdown), here are the key implications:
- You are entitled to back pay for the period your agency was unfunded.
- Check with your agency’s payroll or HR office to learn which tranche your agency falls into.
- Expect your paycheck to arrive anywhere between November 15 and November 19 depending on your agency.
- If you only receive pay for October initially, remaining pay will follow in a later pay cycle.
- Keep documentation (pay stubs, leave records, communications) in case you encounter delays or discrepancies.
- Understand that this situation is historic — the 2025 shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history, and payment schedules reflect complex logistics.
Why Payments Are Staggered
Payment processing is staggered due to:
- Diverse payroll systems across more than two dozen federal agencies.
- Some agencies only process certain pay elements (base pay vs bonuses/hazard pay) on different schedules.
- Administrative guidance requiring agencies to act “expeditiously and accurately,” but each agency must verify data, calculate retroactive pay, and coordinate with payroll centers.
- Some employees will have to wait for adjustments or follow‑on payments (for elements like overtime or hazard pay) in a subsequent pay period.
Risks & What to Watch
- While the law entitles back pay to both furloughed and those working without pay, earlier in the shutdown the administration signalled it might contest pay for furloughed workers — causing concern and legal ambiguity.
- If you haven’t received the pay by your agency’s projected window (e.g., by Nov 19), you should contact HR or payroll to inquire about status.
- Verify that the amount you receive covers the full period of the shutdown and includes elements you are owed (overtime, hazard pay, leave accrual) — some of these may be processed separately.
- Be aware of tax withholdings, retirement contributions and other deductions — retroactive pay may affect your tax withholding for the year.
What About Contractors & Other Workers?
Note: The entitlement to back pay under GEFTA applies only to federal civilian employees who were furloughed or working without pay due to a lapse in appropriations. Contractors are not covered under the same law.
If you are a federal contractor, you should check your contract terms and agency communications for any special provisions.
Final Thought
If you’ve been wondering when will federal employees be paid, the answer is: starting as early as November 15, 2025, and continuing through at least November 19, 2025, depending on your agency’s payroll system and processing schedule.
This payment marks the end of a significant disruption that forced many federal workers to go without pay for more than a month.
If you’d like help checking your agency’s expected pay date or comparing your paycheck figures, feel free to ask — we’ll help you dig in.
Looking forward to hearing your comments or questions as you receive your payments and get back on deck.