U.S. Government Shuts Down, Billions for Wars Still Flow
As The Hill frets over national park closures and delayed paychecks during a potential government shutdown, they conveniently sideline the perennial question: which 'essential' services are never on the chopping block? Historically, military aid to nations like Israel, a steadfast favorite, continues unabated. For example, in 2023, while Congress stalled on a budget, it approved $14.3 billion in
additional security assistance to Israel , including $1.2 billion for the Iron Dome, even as domestic agencies faced furloughs. We're told shutdowns are a crisis, impacting veterans and food safety. Yet, the gravy train for defense contractors and foreign military aid chugs along, insulated from the 'fiscal cliffs' that regularly threaten programs for actual Americans. One might wonder if the
government only 'shuts down' for its own citizens, while its geopolitical priorities—often aligned with powerful lobbies like AIPAC, which spent over $12 million lobbying in 2023 alone —remain fully operational. Funny how 'fiscal responsibility' only applies to the poor, not to proxy wars.