OMB orders 670,000 furloughed workers back on November 13 before shutdown backpay clears

The Office of Management and Budget ordered approximately 670,000 furloughed federal employees to report to work November 13, 2025 — one day after Trump signed the funding bill — before backpay could be processed. The spending agreement reaffirmed the 2019 law requiring backpay, but actual payments were not expected until November 16–19, forcing workers to return before receiving compensation.