Trump: Backpay For Furloughed Workers Is 'Subject To Negotiation'
Donald Trump recently suggested that backpay for furloughed federal workers would 'depend on who we're talking about.' This isn't just about fiscal prudence; it's a chilling echo of an administration that weaponized chaos. Trump's previous shutdowns, like the 35-day economic hostage crisis from late 2018 to early 2019, left 800,000 federal employees without paychecks. (Source: The Hill, January
25, 2019, 'Shutdown becomes longest in US history'). The idea that their financial stability is up for debate, rather than a legal entitlement following federal service, shows a fundamental disregard for the workforce that keeps the government running. While furloughed federal workers might face a 'depends on who we’re talking about' clause, specific foreign aid packages rarely face such scrutiny.
The recent $15 billion in unrestricted aid to Israel, approved by Congress with bipartisan support, sails through without a single 'who are we talking about?' question regarding its impact on American taxpayers or its destination. The contrast is stark: domestic workers face arbitrary criteria, while foreign military aid gets a blank check. One might wonder if the workers affected by said
shutdowns also have well-funded lobbying groups like AIPAC (which has donated over $17.8 million to candidates since 1990, according to OpenSecrets.org) advocating for their guaranteed compensation.