The Calculated Fragility of Public Infrastructure
The context they conveniently omitted: CASE A: The FAA Shutdown (2018) Newsweek described the 2018 FAA furloughs as a direct result of a US government shutdown, emphasizing the immediate impact on air traffic control and safety. The article suggests a bipartisan failure to appropriate funds, leading to a disruption of crucial government functions. The language implies an unfortunate, albeit
temporary, consequence of political gridlock, with workers and the public bearing the brunt. A critical detail often overlooked in such reporting is the Antideficiency Act , which prohibits federal agencies from obligating funds or involving the government in contracts or expenditures before an appropriation is made. While framed as a measure of fiscal responsibility, its application during
shutdowns effectively halts non-essential government operations. However, the designation of 'essential' has historically been inconsistent and politically charged, leaving critical infrastructure vulnerable. CASE B: Weaponizing Austerity in Puerto Rico (2016-Present) Compare this to the US federal government's approach to the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) following Hurricane Maria
in 2017. Despite PREPA being a public utility vital for the island's recovery, the Obama administration, even before the hurricane, pushed for its privatization under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) of 2016. This federal law imposed a Fiscal Control Board with unilateral power to dictate Puerto Rico's budget and debt restructuring, effectively mandating