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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration goes to extraordinary — and sure unlawful — measures to pay members of the US army as a federal authorities shutdown stretches on.
What’s taking place? Right this moment is payday for the army, and below bizarre circumstances, they’d miss a paycheck for the primary time ever due to the federal government shutdown, now in its third week. As a substitute, the Trump administration says it’s repurposing already-appropriated Protection Division funds to pay troopers.
What’s the context? Army pay is only one means the Trump administration is circumventing some penalties of a shutdown; the administration can be utilizing tariff income to fund a key vitamin program for low-income dad and mom and youngsters.
For hundreds of thousands of different federal staff, nevertheless, the persevering with shutdown means no paychecks and potential monetary peril.
Why does this matter? In earlier shutdowns, army pay has develop into a ache level that may drive lawmakers to come back to the desk and reopen the federal government — or no less than go a standalone invoice to pay servicemembers. Which will nonetheless occur if the shutdown continues, as a result of it’s unclear how a lot extra cash DOD can discover to maintain issuing paychecks. However no less than for now, it lets lawmakers punt on the problem.
President Donald Trump’s maneuver additionally underscores the problem Democrats have with voting to fund the federal government. The precise situation — paychecks for troops — has clear bipartisan help, however the methodology — shifting round congressionally appropriated {dollars} at will — is unlikely to spice up Democratic confidence that the administration will stick with the phrases of any new funding deal.
What’s the large image? This isn’t simply in regards to the shutdown. By discovering a approach to pay the troops with out involving Congress, Trump is encroaching on the constitutional energy of the purse that’s explicitly reserved for Congress alone. On the similar time, Trump can be holding up congressionally appropriated funding when he desires. It’s an end-run round Congress from each instructions, and an unprecedented focus of energy for a US president.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
The Seattle Mariners, two wins away from a first-ever American League pennant, are taking part in at residence tonight. It’s already been a sensational postseason for the staff, with large performances within the clutch — together with from Humpy, the staff’s hard-luck salmon mascot.
As Yahoo Sports activities’s Jake Mintz chronicles, Humpy — so named for the humpback salmon, alongside along with his comrades King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, and Silver Salmon — was winless within the staff’s home-game mascot races till final week. Then, on Friday evening, 15 innings deep, he lastly received, and the ballpark went loopy. You’ll be able to learn the total piece right here. Go Humpy, go M’s, and have a terrific night!