The United States government shutdown progressed into week three, with the funding bill failing to receive the required 60 votes for the 12th time on Oct. 23.
Mass Firings
Early on in the shutdown, the Trump administration had issued statements threatening to fire federal workers.
In response, on Oct. 4, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration’s threatened mass firings of federal workers. Stephen Fowler, a political reporter with NPR’s Washington Desk, commented on the firing threats.
“Well, the administration argues that Democrats’ refusal to drop their demands for extending health care subsidies means they have to start firing workers and cutting spending to keep the lights on for essential government services” said Fowler. Budget experts say that these services continue no matter how many people work for the government because they are essential.
“Firing workers and slashing spending has been a top Trump administration priority since day one, like the Department of Government Efficiency effort,” Fowler continued.
Despite the efforts of the AFGE, President Trump has seemingly made true to his statements. Within a court document submitted by the Justice Department, the Trump administration said that about 4,000 federal workers from at least seven agencies had received reduction in force notices on Oct. 10.
However, on Oct.15 Judge Susan Illston from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California sided with AFSCME and AFGE, and ordered the Trump administration to immediately halt the mass firing of federal employees. She also barred the government from effectuating the RIF notices that have gone out thus far.
Freeze in funding
In an interview with conservative news outlet One America News Network in reference to projects in Democrat-leaning states, President Trump said, “We could cut projects that they wanted, favorite projects, and they’d be permanently cut.”
This warning was televised after his administration placed on hold about $18 billion in New York City infrastructure projects (Second Avenue Subway and Hudson Tunnel).
Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought wrote that the projects “are under administrative review to determine whether any unconstitutional practices are occurring”
As of Oct.15, nearly $28 billion in federal funding has been frozen or canceled from Democratic districts, in comparison to roughly $738 million from Republican districts. This poses questions of legality about Trump being able to bypass Congress to control taxpayer money.
Pay issued
On Oct.11, President Trump posted the following to his truth social account:
“Chuck Schumer recently said, ‘Every day gets better’ during their Radical Left Shutdown. I DISAGREE! If nothing is done, because of “Leader” Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, our Brave Troops will miss the paychecks they are rightfully due on October 15th. That is why I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th.”
After tapping into about $8 billion of unused research, development and testing funds, the Trump administration issued paychecks on Oct.15 to military employees.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, blamed Democrats for refusing to vote for the House-passed continuing resolution, and warned that troops risked missing their next paychecks at the end of the month if the shutdown continues.
“If it weren’t for the bold leadership of President Trump helping us to protect our military, everybody needs to understand that 1.3 million active duty service members would be missing a paycheck,” Johnson said.
What’s Next?
With the next voting scheduled, many Americans, including essential workers such as military personnel, wonder if their next paycheck will be received. In addition, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told reporters at the White House on Oct 16. that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will run out of money in two weeks, leading various individuals to search for solutions to fund the program if the government shutdown progresses.
