Republican Senator Says ‘It’s Not Up To’ Trump Whether Federal Workers Get Paid

Republican Senator Says ‘It’s Not Up To’ Trump Whether Federal Workers Get Paid: ‘Read the Constitution’

Alex Griffing Oct 7th, 2025, 5:48 pm

Republican Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday that the president doesn’t decide whether or not federal workers receive back pay following the government shutdown, urging the reporters to “read the Constitution.”

“The Trump administration isn’t necessarily committing to back pay for federal workers. Do you have any thoughts on that?” a reporter asked Kennedy.

Kennedy replied bluntly, “The president—it’s not up to the president. I mean, his opinion matters, but Congress has got to appropriate the money. Read the Constitution.”

The clip was shared online by CBS News’s Cristina Corujo and comes amid reports o