CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins clashed with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Tuesday night over whether furloughed federal workers will receive back pay once the government reopens.
Jordan joined Collins on her show, "The Source," to discuss the government shutdown. Collins pressed Jordan about whether he supports President Donald Trump's threat to withhold pay from furloughed workers.
Jordan argued that workers who are deemed to be "essential" should receive back pay, which Collins pointed out is a significant shift from his position on a government shutdown bill he signed during Trump's first term.
"The president signed that bill in 2019 to restore back pay for all these federal workers then, and you voted yes on that," Collins said.
Jordan protested that he would consider voting a similar way on this bill under the right conditions.
"But actually, when the bill was signed back in 2019, during that last shutdown, it wasn't just for that shutdown, it was for future shutdowns," Collins said. "So federal workers wouldn't get caught in this dispute between Republicans and Democrats."
Jordan added that most Americans agree with the sentiment that those who don't work also don't get paid. Collins pushed back on that assertion.
"But that's not the law you signed," she said. "You didn't say when you voted yes on this that you voted for in 2019. You didn't say the caveat, 'If they're working, they get paid.'"
