[tjohns]

Historically, congress always passed a one-time bill to retroactively pay the federal employees after each shutdown.

Because it turns out not paying your workers is extremely unpopular, especially if you want to retain them as workers in the future. Most people (federal workers included) are living paycheck-to-paycheck and can't financially weather a furlough - they still need to pay rent. The federal government would quickly find itself unable to attract employees given how often shutdowns occur.

After 2019, congress passed a law that guaranteed back-pay for future shutdowns: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Employee_Fair_Treat...

[vanattab]

I might be mistaken but critical workers are guaranteed back pay

[blitzar]

A single stroke of a pen and there are no "critical workers" anymore

[tjohns]

Yes, you're right. Thanks!

(I just edited my post, and also linked to a 2019 law that guarantees back-pay for both essential and non-essential federal workers.)