The White House has a shutdown escape hatch — but it's likely illegal

Trump's Federal Spending Gambit: A Recipe for Disaster?

The federal shutdown has dragged on for weeks, with no end in sight. Instead of finding a congressional off-ramp to resolve the issue, President Donald Trump and his budget chief Russell Vought are taking matters into their own hands.

In a move that is being hailed as "creative" by some but criticized as potentially illegal by others, the White House has been secretly using research and development funds to pay federal employees who haven't received their paychecks due to the shutdown. This is despite there being provisions in place within Pentagon funding bills that allow for the defense secretary to transfer money around if needed.

Critics argue that this is a blatant attempt to circumvent Congress' authority over spending and could be seen as violating the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal officials from spending or obligating money that has not been appropriated by law. The White House is betting that the negative optics of taking such action will outweigh any potential backlash from lawmakers.

In a surprising move, Trump signed an executive order authorizing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to work with Vought to "use for the purpose of pay and allowances any funds appropriated by Congress that remain available for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2026." This has raised eyebrows among experts, who point out that such actions could be seen as a clear breach of budget law.

The White House's actions are not limited to this single move. It has also been using revenue from Trump's escalating tariffs to fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which is under the Department of Agriculture. This has been seen as a cynical move aimed at bolstering support for Republican lawmakers who have historically been opposed to federal assistance programs.

While some argue that this is simply politics as usual in Washington, others see it as a sign of a growing trend in which the White House is increasingly disregarding Congress' authority over spending.

As one expert noted, "The president can't just turn around and spend income tax dollars. It's just a tax." This highlights the complex web of laws and regulations that govern federal spending, and the potential risks of taking such actions without proper authorization.

With the White House pushing the limits of the law even further, it remains to be seen whether Congress or the courts will step in to block these moves. For now, Trump's willingness to treat the Treasury like the White House's ATM seems unlikely to change anytime soon.

this is just getting out of hand , the dude needs to follow the rules, not make up his own. using funds meant for research and dev to pay gov employees? that's not how it works , he's basically saying congress isn't doing their job, which isn't fair. and what about the Antideficiency Act? doesn't he know that's a thing? this whole thing is just creating more drama and setting up for some big court battle down the line. it's like he's playing with fire

I'm worried about this whole thing ... I mean, come on, using R&D funds to pay employees who haven't gotten paid? That's some sneaky stuff! It feels like they're just trying to get around Congress and break the rules. And what's with using tariffs revenue to fund WIC? That doesn't sit right with me either...

I think this whole thing is a recipe for disaster, plain and simple . We need some kind of accountability here. If Trump wants to make changes to spending, he should be working with Congress like everyone else, not just making it up as he goes along.

I'm getting so frustrated with this whole thing... The President thinks he can just play fast and loose with the budget like it's his own personal piggy bank? Newsflash: it's not a game, guys! We're talking about millions of people who are already struggling because of the shutdown, and the White House is using funds meant for R&D to pay them. That's just basic human decency... or lack thereof

And don't even get me started on the tariffs thing. I mean, come on, Trump! Can't you see how this looks like a blatant attempt to buy your way out of trouble? It's not about "politics as usual" - it's about a President who thinks he can just make up his own rules and ignore the law. That's not leadership, that's dictatorship

I'm all for finding creative solutions to problems, but this is just reckless and irresponsible. We need Congress to step in and hold the White House accountable for their actions... or else we're just going to see a lot more of this kind of nonsense in the future

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Not sure about this move by the White House... it's like they're trying to break all the rules and just wing it. I mean, can't they see that playing with fire like this could end in disaster? We need Congress to hold them accountable for their actions.

I'm getting a bad vibe from this whole thing. It sounds like Trump is trying to pull some fast ones to get around Congress and fund his priorities without actually asking for approval . Newsflash, Donald: just because you're the President doesn't mean you can make up your own rules about how money works. This is a classic case of executive overreach, in my humble opinion . I'm all for getting things done, but this feels like a recipe for disaster – what's next, just making it up as he goes along?

I'm not sure what's more concerning - the fact that Trump is essentially treating the treasury as his own personal ATM or the lack of accountability from Congress . It's like they're both playing a game of chicken, but instead of a car, it's the nation's finances on the line.

The thing is, when one person starts to disregard the rules and laws that govern spending, it can create a snowball effect. If Trump thinks he can just use taxpayer money as he sees fit, why shouldn't Congress do the same? It's like we're living in a world where everyone's just making it up as they go along, and no one's really holding anyone accountable.

But at the same time, I do think there are some valid concerns about the Antideficiency Act. If Trump is indeed violating that law, then he's got to face the consequences . But if Congress is so lax on this issue, then maybe we need to take a step back and re-examine our own rules and regulations.

It's all just really complicated, you know? And I'm not sure there's a simple solution to any of this. Maybe that's why they call it politics

This is a super concerning situation . The fact that the White House is playing with fire by using unapproved funds to pay federal employees and bypassing budget law worries me so much...like, what if this sets a bad precedent? And don't even get me started on using tariffs to fund programs that are usually not related to trade agreements . It's like the White House is treating Congress' authority over spending as an afterthought...which is basically a recipe for disaster . I mean, what happens when someone else gets in office and decides they want to do things their own way? The antideficiency act is there for a reason, and it's meant to prevent exactly this kind of thing from happening .

I think this is a super worrying development . I mean, think about it - if the President can just use tax dollars without Congress saying okay, that's a huge deal. It's like the White House thinks they're above the law, and that's not right at all . And what's with this "creative" move to pay federal employees with R&D funds? That's just a recipe for disaster . I don't know about you guys, but I think we need Congress to be able to regulate spending and make sure the President doesn't just do whatever they want . This is a slippery slope, and if we let the President get away with this stuff, it could lead to all sorts of problems down the line .

Trump thinks the Treasury is his personal piggy bank . Newsflash: it's not

I'm getting so frustrated with this whole thing . I mean, can't they just work together? The fact that Trump is using research and development funds to pay federal employees is just plain reckless. It's like he's saying "screw the rules" and expecting everyone else to follow along. And now he's using tariffs to fund a program that was already funded by Congress? That's just dishonest . I don't think it's a matter of politics as usual, I think it's a sign of a bigger problem - Trump doesn't respect the institutions of government and is willing to break the law to get what he wants. It's not looking good for our country .

omg can't believe this... so trump is basically using defense funds to pay federal employees and tariffs revenue to fund a program that his own party has historically opposed? that's some sneaky stuff! it feels like he's trying to get away with something without congress knowing. newsflash: just because you're the president doesn't mean you can just make up your own rules about how money works! and what's next, is he gonna start using food stamps as well? the law is clear, he needs congress' approval for this kind of thing. it's not a game of musical chairs with the treasury department... ‍

[Image of a pie chart with 50% labeled "Disaster", 30% labeled "Creative Solution" and 20% labeled "Uncharted Territory"]

The White House is being super sneaky by using research funds to pay federal employees . It's like taking money from one place and putting it in another without asking anyone first . Critics say this is a big no-no, potentially breaking laws about how the government spends its cash .

But here's the thing: Trump's team might be thinking ahead, trying to get around Congress' spending limits before they become an issue . It's not just about finding a solution; it's also about sending a message that the White House is in charge .

The problem is that this could set a bad precedent and make it harder for future presidents to work with Congress . We need to keep an eye on what happens next, especially since there are laws in place to stop this kind of thing .

[Image of a graph showing the growth of debt over time]

All in all, using funds from research grants to pay employees without proper authorization could lead to some serious issues down the line .

I'm low-key worried about this whole thing . I mean, think about it - the President is basically using research and development funds to pay federal employees because Congress can't agree on a budget? It sounds like he's trying to get out of taking responsibility for his own mess . And now, they're using tariffs revenue to fund WIC without even bothering to pass legislation about it? That's just a whole lot of creative accounting if you ask me . I'm not surprised that experts are warning about the Antideficiency Act - this feels like a slippery slope where the President is trying to bypass Congress and get away with whatever he wants . It's gonna be interesting to see how this all plays out, but I'm not holding my breath for a happy ending

this is so not cool... basically the President is using money meant for research & development to pay ppl who aren't getting paid cuz of the shutdown. that's like taking from one dept's fund & putting it in another dept's fund without permission and by doing so, he's kinda ignoring what Congress says.

this is getting out of hand - Trump thinks he can just use tax dollars whenever he wants? newsflash: that's not how it works his 'creative' solution is basically a recipe for disaster and I'm so worried about the precedent he's setting what's next, using military funds to pay off personal debts or something like that?! this guy needs to respect the law and work with Congress, not try to circumvent them

OMG, this is so shady ... like, what's next? The President just pulling money from thin air? That sounds like a total recipe for disaster! I'm all about finding solutions to get those government workers paid ASAP, but Trump's trying to sidestep Congress and play the "I'm the only one who can solve this" card. Newsflash: that's not how it works

And using WIC funding from tariffs? That's just a whole 'nother level of shady . It's like they're trying to buy off lawmakers instead of working with them. Not cool, Mr. Trump. Not cool. The Antideficiency Act is there for a reason – it's meant to keep the budget in check and prevent executive overreach.

I hope Congress steps in before things get out of hand . We need transparency and accountability, not just some Executive Order magic trick . Trump might think he's getting away with something, but we're all watching ...

I'm low-key worried about this whole thing . I mean, I get that politicians are always looking for ways to get things done, but Trump's trying to use the system like his own personal piggy bank . Newsflash: just because you're the Prez doesn't mean you can bypass Congress' authority and start making decisions on your own .

And what's next? Is he gonna start using NASA funds to build a wall or something? No seriously, this is serious business. If Trump keeps pushing the limits like this, it's only gonna end in more problems down the line . The government needs some checks and balances, you know? Otherwise, we're just gonna end up with a President-for-Life who's ruling by decree .

I'm all for getting things done, but let's not forget that there are laws in place for a reason . And right now, it looks like the White House is trying to rewrite them on the fly . That's not how democracy works, folks .

I mean, come on... this is just crazy talk! Trump thinks he can just use taxpayer dollars for whatever he wants? Newsflash, Donald: we pay you to follow the law, not write your own rules . And what's with using WIC funds? You really think that's going to buy you some brownie points with lawmakers? Like they're gonna be all like "oh, cool, Trump's paying for poor kids' lunches" .

And let's get real, the Antideficiency Act is in place for a reason - because we don't want presidents just making stuff up as they go along. It's like he thinks he's some kind of superhero or something . Newsflash: you're not a supervillain, Donald. You're the President of the United States. Act like it .

I'm not saying I agree with all Congress' decisions, but come on... this is just ridiculous. Can't they just have one coherent conversation without someone having to write a memo about whether or not they're breaking the law . It's like they're trying to make this shutdown thing more dramatic than it needs to be .

Anyway, I'm all for Trump taking initiative and stuff... but not when it means ignoring the law . Can't we just have a normal President who follows the rules?

I'm soooo worried about this ! The Trump administration is basically using a slush fund and it's not even subtle . They're just taking money from wherever they want, whenever they want, without Congress' approval . This is like trying to solve a math problem with a magic wand , but the numbers don't add up .

I mean, come on! The Antideficiency Act is like, super clear , and yet Trump's just gonna disregard it and hope no one notices . And what about all those taxpayer dollars? It feels like they're just treating the Treasury like an ATM , withdrawing funds without permission .

I think we need to have a serious conversation about who's really in charge here . Is it Trump and his team making these decisions, or is Congress still calling the shots ? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like they're just winging it and hoping for the best .

Here's a simple diagram to illustrate this:
```
+---------------+
| Treasury |
| (Taxpayer |
| Dollars) |
+---------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Trump's | | Congress' |
| Slush Fund | | Oversight |
| (Disregarding | | authority |
| Antideficiency | | ) |
+---------------+ +---------------+
```
This is getting out of hand, folks ! We need to keep an eye on this and make sure our elected officials are doing their job .