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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration goes to extraordinary — and certain unlawful — measures to pay members of the US navy as a federal authorities shutdown stretches on.
What’s occurring? At the moment is payday for the navy, and beneath strange circumstances, they might miss a paycheck for the primary time ever due to the federal government shutdown, now in its third week. As an alternative, 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 mother and father and youngsters.
For tens of millions of different federal staff, nonetheless, the persevering with shutdown means no paychecks and potential monetary peril.
Why does this matter? In earlier shutdowns, navy pay has develop into a ache level that may pressure lawmakers to come back to the desk and reopen the federal government — or a minimum of go a standalone invoice to pay servicemembers. That 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 a minimum of for now, it lets lawmakers punt on the difficulty.
President Donald Trump’s maneuver additionally underscores the issue Democrats have with voting to fund the federal government. The precise challenge — paychecks for troops — has clear bipartisan assist, however the technique — shifting round congressionally appropriated {dollars} at will — is unlikely to spice up Democratic confidence that the administration will persist with the phrases of any new funding deal.
What’s the massive image? This isn’t simply in regards to the shutdown. By discovering a method 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 identical 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 sign off…
The Seattle Mariners, two wins away from a first-ever American League pennant, are enjoying at residence tonight. It’s already been a sensational postseason for the workforce, with huge performances within the clutch — together with from Humpy, the workforce’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 workforce’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 complete piece right here. Go Humpy, go M’s, and have an excellent night!