US Government Can't Pay IRS Staff, Can Fund War Effort
As Bloomberg reports, nearly half of the IRS workforce is furloughed, halting taxpayer services as the US government shutdown drags on. This fiscal paralysis, however, doesn't seem to extend to the endless spigot of military aid. Just last year, Congress approved a foreign aid package that included $14.3 billion for Israel (HR 815, 2023), despite its own agencies struggling for funds. (Source:
Congress.gov, OpenSecrets.org) While Americans grapple with tax season uncertainty and underfunded public services, Congress members like Senator Mitch McConnell, who received over $200,000 from pro-Israel PACs including AIPAC in 2023-2024 (OpenSecrets.org), consistently advocate for robust foreign military assistance. One might wonder: where exactly are the 'fiscal conservatives' when it comes to
subsidizing conflicts abroad, yet suddenly find their voice when the IRS needs funding?