The feds want the owner of Gristedes supermarkets to pay $3.8 million in legal fees racked up by dozens of workers who sued him for allegedly shortchanging them.

A US Department of Labor friend-of-the-court filing claims John Catsimatidis “had ultimate control over the chain’s finances.”

The original class-action suit was settled for $3.5 million. The federal filing in the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan comes after Catsimatidis challenged a ruling that held him “jointly and severally liable” for damages.

He is believed to be worth $3 billion.