> This happens semi-routinely, there is a boring reality that goes along with it. [...] retroactively paid in practice
An important difference is that in the past employees were furloughed... but yesterday Republicans threatened they would permanently fire employees instead [0][1] and I'm not sure how it'll shake out.
Their hostage-taking threat falls flat though: They already have have a solid track record of capricious and/or illegal firings [3][4] since the election. There's no reason to expect appeasement would make them stop what they still want to do anyway.
An important difference is that in the past employees were furloughed... but yesterday Republicans threatened they would permanently fire employees instead [0][1] and I'm not sure how it'll shake out.
Their hostage-taking threat falls flat though: They already have have a solid track record of capricious and/or illegal firings [3][4] since the election. There's no reason to expect appeasement would make them stop what they still want to do anyway.
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[0] https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-trump-administr...
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/unions-file-suit-t...
[2] https://www.npr.org/2025/09/25/nx-s1-5544317/federal-probati...
[3] https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/cre...