Could paying certain feds be a strategy for managing a prolonged shutdown?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course. What do you think, OP? This WH has openly brayed about inflicting pain selectively on “Democrat priorities”.

This is one advantage of having a person like Trump, he usually will tell you exactly what he will do and why.

Yes, a prolonged government shutdown allows the President to selectively continue preferred government operations and paychecks without a hiccup, while less desired government operations are shut down and the workers not paid.

All the while, Congress further recedes into irrelevance. At some point, it truly won't matter what Congress wants to do because they will have no power except what is allowed by the executive.

Yep, just like he told us he had never heard of Project 2025 and now it's the playbook for his administration.

What are "less desired government operations?" Let me guess, you work in a desired operation that's mission critical.

Np, this is where it gets inconsistent, though. I did not foresee parts of agencies getting paid. How are some employees of the same agency mission-critical and being paid, while others are mission-critical and not being paid?

Oh, it’s inconsistent? Then I’m sure the administration won’t do it.

[Anonymous]

And Trump has said that a “very wealthy” person has offered to help pay military paychecks. So the military and Trump himself would be indebted to a very wealthy — possibly not American— person? That takes selling out the country way beyond anything I could imagine. I’m also wondering who it might be. There’s apparently no bottom with how low this scum can go when it comes to destruction.


https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2025/10/14/trump-wealthy-person-cover-military-paychecks-shutdown/

[Anonymous]

But what about Feds that support mission critical people? Do they really think that mission critical people have no HR, no IT, no budget, no chiefs of staff, no lawyers reviewing? Other places must be staffed better because even before this year our scientists and engineers were super backlogged and needed others to help them. This year they’ve been so swamped with work because many left due to DRP. I wonder how they’re coping with zero helpers now during the shutdown?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And Trump has said that a “very wealthy” person has offered to help pay military paychecks. So the military and Trump himself would be indebted to a very wealthy — possibly not American— person? That takes selling out the country way beyond anything I could imagine. I’m also wondering who it might be. There’s apparently no bottom with how low this scum can go when it comes to destruction.


https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2025/10/14/trump-wealthy-person-cover-military-paychecks-shutdown/

Hopefully not Musk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And Trump has said that a “very wealthy” person has offered to help pay military paychecks. So the military and Trump himself would be indebted to a very wealthy — possibly not American— person? That takes selling out the country way beyond anything I could imagine. I’m also wondering who it might be. There’s apparently no bottom with how low this scum can go when it comes to destruction.


https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2025/10/14/trump-wealthy-person-cover-military-paychecks-shutdown/

I'd be worried about the fine print for the recipients of those checks. If those employees cash non-government-funded checks, they, too, are indebted to the benefactor. Essentially, they work for whoever their sponsor is.

[Anonymous]

If the military is getting paid, I suspect this shutdown will go on for a very long time. That was a significant pressure point. And now that's gone.

I think the next pressure point are the Air Traffic Controllers. The mortgage needs to be paid. Banks don't care if you are a federal employee. Once ATC start calling in sick so they can become UberEats drivers to get some cash, the shutdown will end. This country can't function without air travel.

[Anonymous]

States shouldn't get money either. Medicare and SS should stop to. IF those things happened this shutdown would have lasted two minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And Trump has said that a “very wealthy” person has offered to help pay military paychecks. So the military and Trump himself would be indebted to a very wealthy — possibly not American— person? That takes selling out the country way beyond anything I could imagine. I’m also wondering who it might be. There’s apparently no bottom with how low this scum can go when it comes to destruction.


https://timesofsandiego.com/military/2025/10/14/trump-wealthy-person-cover-military-paychecks-shutdown/

He left out the “sir” part of his usual b.s. fictional story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the military is getting paid, I suspect this shutdown will go on for a very long time. That was a significant pressure point. And now that's gone.

I think the next pressure point are the Air Traffic Controllers. The mortgage needs to be paid. Banks don't care if you are a federal employee. Once ATC start calling in sick so they can become UberEats drivers to get some cash, the shutdown will end. This country can't function without air travel.

ICE as well. They’re not being paid to terrorize people.

[Anonymous]

I think Trump will find ways to pay certain employees and will let the rest go. I don't believe the government will reopen as it was when it shutdown. Certain agencies may never reopen.

Of course it's not legal, but that isnt stopping Trump. I'm most curious about how it will play out when someone else tries to reverse it. It's going to be a full on mess.

If I were a Fed I would for sure find other work. I don't believe the jobs will remain open for you to come back to.

[Anonymous]

If Trump didn’t want our agencies funded, why did he present his budget to Congress in March showing us funded???? Is there some secret budget that Congress is fighting over?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Trump will find ways to pay certain employees and will let the rest go. I don't believe the government will reopen as it was when it shutdown. Certain agencies may never reopen.

Of course it's not legal, but that isnt stopping Trump. I'm most curious about how it will play out when someone else tries to reverse it. It's going to be a full on mess.

If I were a Fed I would for sure find other work. I don't believe the jobs will remain open for you to come back to.

Are we allowed to find other work? At my agency all outside work has to be approved, even Target jobs. I am getting concerned that I won’t have a job to come back to. I am a presidential priority (although not life and safety). If they want to fire me, just do it. Give me my severance and I’ll go.

[Anonymous]

^^ That's why the CR itself was a farce. Republicans seemed to willfully ignore the 2025 budget was irrelevant when the executive had canceled programs and RIFed staff, all included in the budget they would have continued.

I know the poster above wants to pin this on Dems but it's a hot mess all around. There were no reasonable choices.

[Anonymous]

That would be illegal. Not that Trump cares to follow laws.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Trump will find ways to pay certain employees and will let the rest go. I don't believe the government will reopen as it was when it shutdown. Certain agencies may never reopen.

Of course it's not legal, but that isnt stopping Trump. I'm most curious about how it will play out when someone else tries to reverse it. It's going to be a full on mess.

If I were a Fed I would for sure find other work. I don't believe the jobs will remain open for you to come back to.

Are we allowed to find other work? At my agency all outside work has to be approved, even Target jobs. I am getting concerned that I won’t have a job to come back to. I am a presidential priority (although not life and safety). If they want to fire me, just do it. Give me my severance and I’ll go.

I am not a Fed but if I were I would not care one bit about guidelines. If you find another job you like, you will quit your current one. If you find an hourly role and then are miraculously called back, who is going to ask or know that you worked at Target? I would not sit around waiting for something to maybe happen. Move on if you can.