WASHINGTON — As the government shutdown stretches on, two Northern Virginia lawmakers are pushing back against what they call unlawful threats to withhold back pay from furloughed federal workers.

Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) represent parts of Northern Virginia, which is home to thousands of federal workers. They are among six members of Congress who signed a letter to the Office of Management and Budget criticizing reports that the White House is considering denying back pay to federal employees impacted by the shutdown.

They point to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 , legislation signed into law by the president, which guarantees back pay to federal workers after a shutdown.

"They're sending mixed messages, but the only message

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