Furlough 2025

[FEENIX]

I am on my third day of my furlough (my second in 18 years of civil service). The break gave me time to catch up on putting the house back together after the near completion (end of the month) of the major house renovation, get my reloading room in order, and get ready for the general season in two weeks. It's all good, and I support the shutdown. I hope that others affected are doing well, too.

 

[jamie eaton]

Enjoy your time off

 

[FireFlyFishing]

I wish I was getting the paid vacation. But alas, I'm exempt.

 

[Gary in MD]

I wish I was getting the paid vacation. But alas, I'm exempt.

It ain't paid vacation, my wife worked for the fed for 39 years

 

[FireFlyFishing]

It ain't paid vacation, my wife worked for the fed for 39 years

Federal employees get back paid, by law…it is forced paid time off. I call it unscheduled vacation. You can call it what you like.

 

[Gary in MD]

Most of the time you are right but not 100 percent. This from someone that worked there for 39 years.

 

[Gary in MD]

Federal employees get back paid, by law…it is forced paid time off. I call it unscheduled vacation. You can call it what you like.

How long have you worked for the feds?

 

[FEENIX]

Federal employees get back paid, by law…it is forced paid time off. I call it unscheduled vacation. You can call it what you like.

In the past, yes, but not this round. We are not receiving payment as per OPM's message.

 

[FEENIX]

Most of the time you are right but not 100 percent. This from someone that worked there for 39 years.

I have a similar experience with your wife regarding my combined military and civilian service. I have been with many congressional reduction mandates, and this round is by far the most aggressive and genuinely the only one that shows actual reduction in force/cost-cutting measures.

ADDED:
In the past, the congressional mandate has been bastardized. For instance, in the past, the old version of the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) offered a monetary incentive to the incumbent when an authorization was targeted for reduction-in-force to encourage early retirement. The authorization is then unfunded and later deleted. That is how it is supposed to work. However, they are being filled again with what leadership has in mind to replace the incumbent. Many of the DRP applicants this year were disapproved, including one who is a coworker and hunting buddy.

 

[sp6x6]

I just got back from my unpaid vacation.Called in a couple rag horns.Stalked a real good bull, but only made it to 81 yrds before he got out of his bed and walked out of my life..

 

[FireFlyFishing]

In the past, yes, but not this round. We are not receiving payment as per OPM's message.

Correct. you don't receive payment as usual, but you will be back paid by law (Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019) when the shutdown is over and funds are appropriated.

I just briefly looked at OPM's recent guidance. Which can be found HERE. I didn't see any language contrary to what I wrote above. Do you have a link to the message you mentioned?

 

[FEENIX]

Correct. you don't receive payment as usual, but you will be back paid by law (Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019) when the shutdown is over and funds are appropriated.

I just briefly looked at OPM's recent guidance. Which can be found HERE. I didn't see any language contrary to what I wrote above. Do you have a link to the message you mentioned?

No! The message came from our Civilian Personnel Office, Comptroller Squadron, and Wing Commander. As I said, the rules of engagement have changed, unlike in the past.

 

[FireFlyFishing]

No! The message came from our Civilian Personnel Office, Comptroller Squadron, and Wing Commander. As I said, the rules of engagement have changed, unlike in the past.

The link in post 11 was dated 9/28/25. So this is the most recent take on shutdowns and furloughs.

As an exempted employee, I'm supposedly going to get paid for time and travel through the shutdown. We'll see…That is certainly different from shutdowns of the past.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out if I can take scheduled leave for hunting season. Apparently, ALL LEAVE IS CANCELLED.

So….I'm not a big fan of the shutdown…or any of the shutdowns in the past.

@FEENIX, so you won't be paid at all???

 

[FEENIX]

The link in post 11 was dated 9/28/25. So this is the most recent take on shutdowns and furloughs.

As an exempted employee, I'm supposedly going to get paid for time and travel through the shutdown. We'll see…That is certainly different from shutdowns of the past.

Right now, I'm trying to figure out if I can take scheduled leave for hunting season. Apparently, ALL LEAVE IS CANCELLED.

So….I'm not a big fan of the shutdown…or any of the shutdowns in the past.

@FEENIX, so you won't be paid at all???

Guidance and "actual" execution are never the same. Last Wednesday, I was authorized 3 hours of regular pay; the rest was coded as furlough. Thursday was coded as furlough, and Friday was my RDO for the pay period. As of Wednesday, I have been informed that I will not receive payment for the days I am furloughed. So, I am getting paid for 66 of 80 hours for the pay period.

As far as leave, I have plenty of use or lose leave I can use if use if I want to get paid or take leave during hunting season.