Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump signed a bill providing back pay to federal employees affected by the ongoing partial government shutdown, the White House announced Wednesday.

Trump signed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which the White House said "requires the compensation of government employees for wages lost, work performed, or leave used during a lapse in appropriations that begins on or after December 22, 2018, and entitles excepted employees to use leave during a lapse in appropriations."

The workers will be paid after the shutdown is over.

Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, who sponsored the bill, tweeted that Trump signing the legislation "is an important step toward providing our civil servants with some stability and hope."

"But it doesn't help pay the bills *now.* To do that, we MUST reopen the government. #EndTheShutdown," added Cardin, whose state neighbors Washington and is home to many federal workers.

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