1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

Subject: Demand for Back Pay for All Civil Servants Affected by the Government Shutdown Dear Members of the Utah Congressional Delegation, I am writing to demand immediate legislative action to ensure full back pay for all federal civil servants affected by the ongoing government shutdown. Thousands of dedicated public employees—your constituents—have been locked out of their jobs or forced to work without pay, while members of Congress, many of whom have not reported to work since September 17th, continue to receive their full salaries. This is an indefensible double standard. Civil servants uphold their oaths to serve the American people every day—maintaining our parks, protecting our borders, managing emergency response, and supporting veterans—often at personal and financial sacrifice. Yet while they struggle to pay rent, buy groceries, and care for their families, members of the House of Representatives are being paid for failing to perform their most basic duty: keeping the government open. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-1) requires that all federal employees receive back pay for any lapse in appropriations once the government reopens. There must be no loopholes, delays, or exceptions this time. Congress must reaffirm and enforce this law without hesitation to protect the livelihoods of the people who keep this nation running. If Congress believes its members deserve to be paid during a shutdown, then surely the same dignity and fairness must be extended to the civil servants who perform the daily work of governance. Anything less is hypocrisy. I urge you to act immediately to guarantee back pay for every affected worker and to publicly demand accountability from House members who have failed to perform their duties while continuing to draw taxpayer-funded salaries.