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Trump’s Allies Take Month-Long Paid Vacation as 1.4 Million Federal Workers Do Their Jobs Without Pay During Shutdown

AFL-CIO
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MEMORANDUM

TO: Interested Parties
FROM: AFL-CIO’s Department of People Who Work for a Living
DATE: Oct. 19, 2025
RE: Trump’s Allies Take Month-Long Paid Vacation as 1.4 Million Federal Workers Do Their Jobs Without Pay During Shutdown

Summary

For 19 days, more than 2 million federal workers have been locked out of their jobs and forced to work without pay as Trump’s allies in Congress enjoy a month-long paid vacation. Millions of working families are missing paychecks and millions more are opening letters warning of health care cost spikes, while President Trump’s allies stay home and cash taxpayer funded checks. 

Trump’s Allies Vacation Vacation While the Government Shuts Down

Trump’s allies in Congress adjourned on September 19, refused to return to work and stop the government shutdown on October 1, then collected their paychecks later that day. In the weeks since, more than 2 million federal workers, including military servicemembers, have missed a paycheck. Meanwhile, President Trump hosted “some of the richest people in the country” for dinner on “gold-rimmed china.” 

As November approaches, federal workers will be once again forced to choose between rent and groceries. But rather than meeting with congressional leaders to find a government funding solution, the Trump administration is killing hundreds of thousands of jobs across industries and attempting to fire thousands of federal workers. 

Taxpayers Fund Shutdown Vacation That Lasts 5x Longer Than Their Own

President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson have sponsored a month-long paid vacation for House Republicans. That brings their total vacation in 2025 to nearly one third of the year––a benefit that most workers get less than two weeks of for the entire year. 

Even House Republicans Say It’s Time to Get Back to Work

As the House reaches one month out of session with a “completely empty” calendar for October, Speaker Johnson’s own members are calling for him to bring them back: 

  • Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA-03): “The House needs to return to session. It's absurd to be cancelling weeks of legislative business when the government is shut down and Congress hasn't enacted a budget in 19 months.”
  • Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA-14): “I think he should really bring the House back in session for many reasons.”
  • Rep. Jay Obernolte (IL-23): “I think we’re gonna get to a point where it’s damaging to continue to keep the House out of session”
  • Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04): “I hope we’ll come back…I don’t think it’s a good look to be home when the government shuts down."

The Bottom Line

Trump and his allies have spent a month on paid vacation while federal workers have worked a month without pay. 

QUOTE FROM AFL-CIO PRESIDENT LIZ SHULER

“It’s time for President Trump and Speaker Johnson to get back to work: fund the government, fix the health care crisis, and put working people first.” 

Contact: Onotse Omoyeni, 202-637-5018