This is BS. Political views aside, these workers have earned the pay through the 19th. The Continuing Resolution they are currently in that runs out tomorrow midnight, allows for the fedgov to pay their workers for all work through tomorrow midnight. Simply because there’s one extra day to worry about means nothing. Only those who were scheduled to work on Saturday are affected. None of the others would be.
If a Payday falls on a Weekend or Holiday, the Employee is paid on the Business Day that falls before the Weekend or Holiday.
In this case they receive their Paycheck (Automatic Deposit) on Friday, not Saturday.
The same works for Social Security payments for those still under the 3rd of the Month Payment Schedule.
New Recipients are paid on Wednesdays throughout the Month depending on their Birthdate. In my case, it’s the fourth Wednesday of the Month because my Birthday is the 26th.
It’s all a bunch of BS.