President Trump Wednesday assured federal workers sidelined by the partial government shutdown that they’ll get paid retroactively.
“They’re all going to get the money and I think they’re going to be happy,” he told reporters at the White House on the 19th day of the shutdown.
About 800,000 federal workers are being furloughed or are working without pay. Many will miss their first paychecks this week.
The president said many such workers “are on my side.”
“You take a look at social media, so many of those people saying ’it’s very hard for me, it’s very hard for my family, but Mr. President you’re doing the right thing. Get it done.’ They’re patriots,” he said.
But at an event Democrats hosted at the Capitol Wednesday morning, federal workers were decidedly against the shutdown.
None of the workers lined up behind House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer raised their hands when asked whether they supported the shutdown or wanted to see a border wall built.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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