WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations, introduced a Resolution of Inquiry to demand answers regarding the Trump administration's unprecedented implementation of reductions in force across federal agencies during the ongoing government shutdown and their threats to withhold backpay for furloughed federal government employees.
"Donald Trump is actively working to destroy our federal workforce, and unfortunately the Republican majority continues to sit idle while our government and the American people suffer," said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. "Federal workers are the lifeblood of our democracy and should not be used as political pawns during the Trump administration's vengeful pursuit of inflicting maximum pain during this Republican shutdown. I'm demanding answers."
"IFPTE fully backs Congressman Mfume’s Resolution of Inquiry to hold the Trump Administration and the Office of Management and Budget accountable for repeated threats to deny legally obligated backpay to furloughed federal workers," said Matthew Biggs, President of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). "The Resolution also requests information regarding the Reductions in Force (RIFs) of federal workers while Congress has not appropriated the funds to do so. The Administration seems to be granting themselves new authorities that break the law and, fearing no legal or political repercussions, is repeatedly announcing that they view the livelihoods and careers of nonpartisan federal civil servants as a target for political retaliation. Our union calls on all lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to do their jobs -- hold the Administration accountable by supporting this Resolution of Inquiry."
“The Office of Management and Budget does not make the law; it is required to follow it. The law is clear that furloughed employees must receive backpay when a shutdown ends. And the executive branch does not gain new powers to fire federal employees in response to a government shutdown – it is restricted by the Antideficiency Act from incurring new administrative burdens and financial obligations. NARFE commends Congressman Mfume for leading this resolution of inquiry to exercise congressional oversight authority over the unlawful actions of OMB,” said National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) President William Shackelford.
The Resolution of Inquiry (ROI) would demand that the Trump Administration provide documents, communications, and factual information concerning:
- Any proposed reduction in force at a United States government agency related to the federal lapse in appropriations beginning on October 1, 2025;
- Any efforts to create a legal determination at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) finding or suggesting that the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 does not create a self-executing requirement that furloughed federal employees must receive pay for the period in which they were furloughed during a lapse in appropriations immediately after the lapse in appropriations ends;
- Any efforts or plans to withhold pay for the period of the lapse of appropriations beginning on October 1, 2025, for excepted or furloughed employees of the United States government or employees of the District of Columbia;
- Any and all documents or communications between the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Special Counsel, and the Merit System Protection Board related to any of the above items.
The legislation is currently endorsed by the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), and National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).
Click here to read full text of the Resolution of Inquiry.
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