Federal workers have been ordered to return to work after the end of the government shutdown as they await back pay.

While an estimated 750,000 workers were furloughed during the shutdown, some others were considered essential and required to work without pay.

Most government employees were not paid during the crisis due to the lapse in funding. Some, including military members and homeland security officers, received paychecks after President Donald Trump's administration pulled strings.

The federal government fully reopened late on Nov. 12 after Trump signed a bill to fund the agencies through Jan. 30. Still, after the history-making 43-day shutdown, the effects on government departments are expected to linger. Here's what federal workers need to know.

Federal employees ordered to return to work on Nov. 13

In a memo on Nov. 12, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought ordered federal agencies – and their workers – to resume operations the next day.

"Agencies should take all necessary steps to ensure that offices open in a prompt and orderly manner on November 13, 2025. Employees who were on furlough due to the absence of appropriations should be directed to return to work on November 13," the memo said.

When will federal workers receive back pay?

A senior Trump administration official confirmed to USA TODAY that departments are aiming to send out checks covering back pay between Nov. 15-19, depending on the agency. The timeline was first reported by Semafor.

Because agencies have different payroll providers and payment processes, timing could vary. It is also why there is a discrepancy in the period covered by the initial check, the official said.

Most agencies are currently in the middle of their pay period, so the check only covers through Nov. 1 – pay for the rest of November, so far, will be in workers' next paycheck.

Here is the projected timing by agency:

  • Nov. 15 (check covering Oct. 1-Nov. 1)
    • General Services Administration
    • Office of Personnel Management
  • Nov. 16 (check covering Oct. 1-Nov. 1)
    • Department of Energy
    • Department of Health and Human Services
    • Department of Veterans Affairs
    • Department of War (formerly known as Department of Defense) civilians
  • Nov. 17 (check covering Oct. 1-Nov. 1)
    • Department of Education
    • Department of State
    • Department of the Interior
    • Department of Transportation
    • Environmental Protection Agency
    • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    • National Science Foundation
    • Nuclear Regulatory Commission
    • Social Security Administration
  • Nov. 19 (check covering Oct. 1-Nov. 15)
    • Department of Agriculture
    • Department of Commerce
    • Department of Homeland Security
    • Department of Housing and Urban Development
    • Department of Justice
    • Department of Labor
    • Department of the Treasury
    • Small Business Administration

Are federal workers guaranteed back pay?

Back pay for federal workers — while guaranteed under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act — remained uncertain during the shutdown.

However, the deal to reopen the government ensured that federal employees would be paid for the deficit accumulated during the shutdown.

The Office of Personnel Management previously ordered essential employees working during the shutdown to continue documenting their hours in accordance with special instructions from their agency's payroll provider.

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, passed during the last government shutdown, says that federal workers who are furloughed during a lapse in government funding "shall be paid for the period of the lapse."

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will federal workers get back pay? See projected payment timeline

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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