‘Involuntary Servitude’ Charged in Third Suit Over Shutdown

Five federal employees have asked a court to stop the government from requiring them to work without pay during the partial shutdown.

Threatening workers with discipline if they don’t work without pay amounts to “involuntary servitude” in violation of the 13th Amendment, the unnamed employees allege in a Jan. 9 lawsuit against President Donald Trump, the U.S. government, and four federal agency heads.

They also say the shutdown violates the Fifth Amendment by imposing “arbitrary government interference” that limits workers’ ability to obtain outside employment. Violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Antideficiency Act, and Article I and Article ...