Stephanie Sanic-Costro

Currently, none of the government contractors will receive back pay due to the shutdown.

Federal law was passed to compensate federal employees.

There is no similar legislation providing back pay compensation to federal contractors.

About four million people work for companies that contract with the federal government.

Stephanie Sanic-Costro of the Professional Services Council says not all are furloughed, but many are feeling the strain.

Castro says the hardest-hit sectors are civilian agencies like Health and Human Services.

where projects are stalled and small firms are burning through savings.

Economists say losses from the shutdown in 2019 topped $3 billion.

Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.