November 12, 2025
Russell Vought recalled federal workers the day after Trump signed the spending bill, while agencies scrambled to process 43 days of missing paychecks
The 2025 government shutdown began on October 1 when Congress and the Trump administration failed to pass a spending bill before the fiscal year deadline. It lasted 43 days, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, surpassing the previous record of 35 days set in 2018-2019.
At least 670,000 federal workers were furloughed without pay during the shutdown. An additional 730,000 essential workers continued working without paychecks. By the shutdown peak around Day 20, approximately 750,000 workers were furloughed daily while 1.4 million essential workers worked without pay.
President Trump signed the shutdown-ending spending bill on November 12, 2025. Within hours, OMB Director Russell Vought issued memo M-26-01 directing all executive agencies to reopen and recall furloughed employees to return by November 13 — less than 24 hours after the bill was signed.
The 2019 Government Employees Fair Treatment Act requires agencies to pay furloughed and excepted employees their standard rate of pay for the hours they would have worked, issued at the earliest date possible. Back pay is guaranteed by federal law; workers cannot legally be denied it after a shutdown ends.
The National Treasury Employees Union publicly warned that the November 13 recall date forced workers back before agency payroll systems could process 43 days of missing wages. NTEU leadership said delays put some workers in a precarious position with bill collectors and cited widespread financial stress on member families.
Agency back-pay timelines varied significantly. The IRS initially planned a slow rollout before union pressure forced it to move the majority of back pay to November 19.
State Department employees received paychecks as early as November 13. The Interior Department paid half of back pay on November 17 and the second half on November 25.
The spending deal that ended the shutdown included a provision rescinding reduction-in-force notices that agencies had issued to employees during the shutdown. OMB memo M-26-01 directed agencies to cancel RIF notices as part of the reopening process.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the shutdown caused approximately $7 billion in lost economic output by October 31, 2025 — before the shutdown ended. That figure does not include downstream costs of delayed government services, processing backlogs, or worker financial hardship.
Complete the sentence about the legal dispute
Congress has no role in determining back pay after a shutdown.
Complete: OMB memo number is ____.
OMB's memo guaranteed back pay would clear before employees returned.
Which trend best describes payroll runs after the reopen?
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President of the United States
National President, National Treasury Employees Union
U.S. Senator, Alaska (Republican)
U.S. Senator, Virginia (Democrat)
U.S. Senate Minority Leader
civic action
Contact your senators about laws protecting federal workers during future shutdowns
The 2025 shutdown lasted 43 days and left 670,000 workers without pay. Senators can strengthen back-pay protections and require agencies to complete payroll processing before issuing recall orders. Contacting your senator creates a record of constituent demand for stronger worker protections.
Hello, I am [NAME], a constituent from [CITY/STATE]. I am calling about the 2025 government shutdown and the recall of furloughed federal workers.
Key concerns:
Questions to ask:
Specific request: I am asking Senator [NAME] to support legislation that prevents future shutdowns from forcing workers back to their desks before they receive the wages they are legally owed.
Question: What is Senator [NAME] position on strengthening back-pay protections for federal workers after government shutdowns?
Thank you for your time.
legal resource
Read OMB memo M-26-01 that recalled furloughed workers
The official OMB memo sets the November 13 return date, directs agencies to rescind RIF notices, and lays out the reopening process. Reading the primary source shows exactly what the administration required agencies to do and what protections it did or did not build in for workers.
research
Check whether your federal agency employer complied with Government Employees Fair Treatment Act back-pay rules
The 2019 Government Employees Fair Treatment Act requires back pay at the earliest date possible. Workers who experienced delays beyond their agency timeline can contact their union or the Office of Personnel Management to verify compliance. NTEU tracked agency-by-agency back-pay delivery dates.
legislative
Contact your House representative about preventing future shutdowns
The House controls appropriations and has the power to pass spending bills that avoid shutdowns. Representatives who voted against or delayed spending legislation contributed to a 43-day shutdown that cost $7 billion in lost economic output and left hundreds of thousands of workers without paychecks.
Hello, I am [NAME], a constituent from [CITY/STATE]. I am calling about the 43-day government shutdown that ended November 12, 2025.
Key concerns:
Questions to ask:
Specific request: I am asking Representative [NAME] to publicly commit to preventing another government shutdown of this length and to support structural reforms that make shutdowns less likely.
Question: What is Representative [NAME] position on automatic continuing resolutions as a safeguard against government shutdowns?
Thank you for your time.