I saw somewhere that OMB hasn't even changed their FAQ, though, and it still says that all furloughed employees will receive backpay.

I think this was just a very feeble bluff.


The draft OMB memo reportedly argues that the 2019 law is not "self-executing" and that the payment would need to be specifically provided by Congress as part of the legislation to fund the government. The argument hinges on a technical reading, suggesting the law created an authorization to pay but not the actual appropriation.


Bell_curve

Politics_And_Law

Bipartisan Blowback After White House Threat to Furloughed Workers’ Back Pay

Cje95

All they're saying is that the backpay is not guaranteed automatically. 

I'd say there's no chance of backpay actually being withheld because almost everyone in congress has a bunch of stuff they want the bureaucrats to do for them, which is why they always granted backpay before that law passed.