From The Hill newspaper,
Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump shutdown layoffs.
They report,
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, an appointee of former President Clinton, sided with government employee unions in temporarily barring the administration from carrying out the reductions in force (RIFs) that were expected to impact more than 4,000 workers.
At a hearing Wednesday, Illston said before arguments even began that she believed the plaintiffs would ultimately prevail in demonstrating that the administration’s efforts, which appear to be “politically motivated,” are illegal and exceed its authority.
Then why bother having the hearing, when you have already decided? So, the President, the elected head of the executive branch, has no control over executive branch employees.
The lawsuit was brought by government employee unions, which should not exist.
The unions sued just before the shutdown began, contending the Trump administration’s plan to implement permanent firings instead of temporary furloughs with later back pay is unlawful.
Temporary? Think again. Democrats in the U.S. Senate have now voted nine times to prevent the government from reopening. There does not appear to be any event on the horizon which would change that dynamic.
The unions claim that the Administration “misunderstands the law governing shutdowns.” What law? Democrats voted to shut down the government on September 30. The federal government no longer exists. And it’s not clear that it ever will again.
I presume that none of those 4,000 workers were paid today. Call it a furlough, call it a layoff, call it a firing, it’s just semantics. They no longer work for the government. There is no government.
From CNN,
Military pay resumes amid government shutdown as layoffs mount.
They report,
It’s a crucial payday for U.S. service members — and a moment of relief for military families caught up in the ongoing government shutdown.
President Donald Trump confirmed that troops are receiving paychecks after funds were reallocated from the Pentagon’s research and development budget.
“Resumes”? I don’t think military pay ever lapsed. But there must be a limit to the budgetary games that can be played to keep the pay flowing.
