White House Suggests Some Workers Don't Deserve Back Pay After Shutdown
While some federal employees face uncertainty over receiving pay for work missed during government shutdowns, the US government consistently greenlights billions in foreign aid, often with minimal oversight. For instance, the US provides a guaranteed $3.8 billion annually in military aid to Israel, regardless of shutdowns or domestic financial woes, as stipulated in the 2016 Memorandum of
Understanding. This isn't tied to performance reviews; it's a blank check. It appears the Treasury has an endless supply of funds for laser-guided munitions for offshore conflicts, but suddenly develops budgetary amnesia when it comes to compensating its own domestic workforce. One wonders if the 'don't deserve to be taken care of' sentiment extends to defense contractors or foreign governments
that receive US aid. (Spoiler: it doesn't.)