A coalition of over 50 House Democrats urged utility companies to suspend late fees and service terminations for federal employees and contractors impacted by the ongoing government shutdown, now in its fourth week. Led by Reps. Don Beyer and Sarah Elfreth, the lawmakers emphasized that workers should not lose essential services due to missed paychecks, citing the 2019 Government Employee Fair Treatment Act which guarantees backpay. They requested flexible payment plans once pay resumes. The Democrats also want any funding deal to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. The financial impact on federal workers has varied, with some agencies receiving pay while others face reductions, a situation complicated by the Trump administration's differing approaches to worker pay.
Read more: https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2025/10/house-dems-urge-utilities-keep-lights-feds-amid-shutdown/408996/
