The Hitchhiker’s Guide to federal pay dates to watch if there’s a partial government shutdown
One marker to often watch to divine the possible length of any government shutdown is the schedule for paying federal workers.For instance, this potential partial shutdown, covering six areas of...
By Fox News · Fox News
One marker to often watch to divine the possible length of any government shutdown is the schedule for paying federal workers. For instance, this potential partial shutdown, covering six areas of the government and addressing 78% of all federal spending, is set to begin at 12:00:01 am et on Saturday, Jan. 31. That’s where there would be a "lapse in appropriations" over the weekend. DEMS RELENT, SENATE SENDS $174B SPENDING PACKAGE TO TRUMP'S DESK AS SHUTDOWN LOOMS OVER DHS FUNDING For starters, that technicality of a "lapse in appropriations" gives lawmakers some wiggle room to resolve the issue before 9 a.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 2, when most federal workers return to the job. But another important barometer to gauge is when federal workers miss paychecks. Federal workers were last paid on Jan. 21, one day later than usual because of the Martin Luther King federal holiday. However, the next batch of checks is due to go out Monday, Feb. 2. They technically cover the work period which runs through Thursday, Feb. 5. The checks are actually cut on Feb. 2. CONGRESS ROLLS OUT $80B SPENDING BILL AS DEMS THREATEN DHS FUNDING AMID SHUTDOWN FEARS But Fox News Digital is told that workers would at least receive a partial paycheck, through work completed on Friday, Jan. 30. That’s the last day the the government was funded. Those checks still go out on Feb. 2. Any money covering expenditures beginning on Jan. 31 is illegal. It’s a violation of the Antideficiency Act, where the executive branch is spending money not appropriated by Congress. So the weekend gives lawmakers a bit of a breather to figure things out. And the next day to cut checks is Tuesday, Feb. 17. That is one day later than usual because of Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 16. SENATE DEMS REVOLT AGAINST DHS FUNDING BILL AMID MINNEAPOLIS CHAOS, HIKING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN RISK In short, Congress and the executive branch have nearly three weeks to solve this before most federal workers would miss an ENTIRE paycheck. Ho…