The longest authorities shutdown in U.S. historical past, which lasted 43 days, has lastly concluded.

However, the repercussions are still being felt across America, as many federal staff who had been compelled to work without pay during the shutdown are now questioning when they may obtain their overdue wages.

Nearly a week after the shutdown’s conclusion, IRS staff can count on to obtain most of their back pay by Nov. 19, according to an e mail from the IRS obtained by the Federal News Network. This news follows a sequence of conflicting messages that IRS staff acquired about their back pay schedule.

Both furloughed staff and those who continued to work without pay are included in the back pay. About a week into the authorities shutdown, roughly 34,000 IRS staff, representing half of the company’s workforce, had been furloughed.

“After ongoing conversations with the National Finance Center, the IRS now anticipates the majority of back pay will be paid on 11/19/2025,” states the IRS e mail obtained by the Federal News Network.

This update follows an earlier IRS memo to staff stating that they must wait until Nov. 24 to obtain back pay protecting two full pay durations, and then wait until Dec. 8 for the back pay for a partial pay period.

Employees are demanding speedy back pay following the authorities’s reopening

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents the company’s staff, demanded speedy back pay for IRS workers following the earlier Nov. 24 fee schedule.

“Our message was clear: The law requires that federal employees receive back pay, and IRS employees cannot wait much longer to receive what they are owed,” the union wrote in a memo.

For quite a few federal staff, this back pay is essential, as many have encountered financial difficulties, including lowering spending, racking up bank card debt, and securing emergency loans.

“This is an emergency for federal employees across the country, and they should not have to wait another minute longer for the paychecks they lost during the longest government shutdown in history,” NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald said in a press release.

Continuing, Greenwald added: “Federal employees are committed to public service and helping agencies meet the needs of the American people. It is time the government lives up to its commitment to them.”

The law states that back pay is owed to federal staff

The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 stipulates that all federal staff will obtain retroactive compensation as soon as the authorities shutdown period ends.

A memo from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on Nov. 12 strengthened this back pay law, stating: “Federal employees who did not receive pay because of the lapse in appropriations that began on October 1, 2025, must receive retroactive pay at the employee’s standard rate of pay for the lapse period as soon as possible after the lapse ends.”