By Anvee Bhutani

Millions of federal workers have started to partially lose pay, and are on track to miss full paychecks later this month, if the government shutdown continues. A 2019 law guarantees automatic back pay for all federal employees once the shutdown concludes, though the White House has challenged whether furloughed employees are guaranteed that pay.

Here's what to know:

When will federal employees start missing pay?

Federal civilian employees saw the first effects in a reduced paycheck on either Friday, Oct. 10 or Tuesday, Oct. 14, depending on which agency employs them. This covered pay for work through Oct. 1, when the shutdown began.

Should the shutdown continue, federal workers will then miss their full paychecks on Oct. 24 or Oct. 28. Workers across federal government agencies all receive their salaries according to slightly different pay calendars.

How about military personnel?

Members of the military received their Oct. 1 paycheck as usual. Trump and the White House Office for Management and Budget made sure troops are getting paid on Oct. 15, after moving some funds from a separate Defense Department account. It isn't clear what will happen on their next payday at the end of the month.

All active-duty members of the military will stay on the job during the shutdown.

How many workers are affected?

Both "essential" employees, who are required to keep working, and furloughed employees, who are barred from working, will start to miss paychecks. Overall, there are about 2 million civilian government workers and 1.3 million active-duty members of the military.

Is there precedent for the military not getting paid?

Most servicemembers were paid during the 2018-2019 shutdown, which lasted more than a month, because the Defense Department appropriations bill funding their pay had already been passed into law. In the past, lawmakers made sure that the military got paid on time, often striking side deals separate from the agreements resolving the shutdown.

How about private contractors?

Private contractors, from cleaning personnel to external consultants, don't receive automatic back pay, meaning they can go unpaid for the duration of the government shutdown.

Some have historically filed for unemployment to make up some lost pay, while other workers are still paid as some federal contractors have begun to include premiums in their bids to account for government uncertainty, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Approximately $15 billion a week in federal contracts are awarded to businesses throughout the country, according to the White House. These companies would lose funds because of a lack of available contract work and not be reimbursed for completed projects -- and have to lay off workers.

Do all federal employees miss paychecks?

No. Some federal employees are paid outside of regular appropriations, such as through user fees, and so they continue to work and continue to be paid.

What should workers expect?

For people furloughed or working without pay, back pay is guaranteed once lawmakers reopen the government, but timing will vary depending on the agency's payroll processing. The White House has questioned whether furloughed workers are guaranteed back pay, but GOP congressional leaders and some agencies' guidance have said back pay will be owed to those workers.

This explanatory article may be periodically updated.

Write to Anvee Bhutani at anvee.bhutani@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 14, 2025 15:20 ET (19:20 GMT)

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