US President Donald Trump's administration is exploiting a loophole to continue paying federal workers despite a government shutdown, with little oversight from lawmakers.
The budget chief, Russell Vought, is utilizing "creative" methods to redirect funds that don't require congressional approval. One notable example is the transfer of tariff revenue to support the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which might be a permissible use under a specific 1935 law intended to promote food consumption among low-income groups.
However, Vought's maneuver to pay active-duty and reserve military service members without Congress's explicit authorization likely violates key budget laws. These laws, including the Antideficiency Act, restrict government spending unless explicitly authorized by Congress. Executives have historically sought ways to circumvent these restrictions, but violating the law carries serious consequences.
A recent executive order allowed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to collaborate with Vought on using unappropriated funds for payroll and allowances. This move may violate Article 1, Section 9 of the US Constitution, which prohibits drawing money from the Treasury without congressional approval.
The White House's actions appear driven by a desire to shield the administration from criticism and maintain public support among key constituents, such as military personnel and low-income families.
As the situation remains unresolved, it is unclear whether lawmakers will intervene or allow the courts to address these concerns. If no action is taken, President Trump may continue to manipulate funds without congressional oversight, raising questions about the limits of executive power.
The budget chief, Russell Vought, is utilizing "creative" methods to redirect funds that don't require congressional approval. One notable example is the transfer of tariff revenue to support the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which might be a permissible use under a specific 1935 law intended to promote food consumption among low-income groups.
However, Vought's maneuver to pay active-duty and reserve military service members without Congress's explicit authorization likely violates key budget laws. These laws, including the Antideficiency Act, restrict government spending unless explicitly authorized by Congress. Executives have historically sought ways to circumvent these restrictions, but violating the law carries serious consequences.
A recent executive order allowed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to collaborate with Vought on using unappropriated funds for payroll and allowances. This move may violate Article 1, Section 9 of the US Constitution, which prohibits drawing money from the Treasury without congressional approval.
The White House's actions appear driven by a desire to shield the administration from criticism and maintain public support among key constituents, such as military personnel and low-income families.
As the situation remains unresolved, it is unclear whether lawmakers will intervene or allow the courts to address these concerns. If no action is taken, President Trump may continue to manipulate funds without congressional oversight, raising questions about the limits of executive power.
! Like, I get it, the admin needs to pay its people somehow, but come on, using loopholes and creative accounting just to stay in power? It's so uncool 
. If they can't work with Congress to pass a real budget, then what's the point of even having one? 
And let's not forget about the Antideficiency Act - it's like a big ol' warning sign that says "don't do this" 
. But I guess when you're in charge and think you're above the law (which, tbh, is kinda a weird thing to think), you start taking risks 
.
. We need to hold our leaders accountable for following the law, not finding ways to work around it 
. The fact that they're using a 1935 law to justify this is just more proof that they're trying to manipulate things to their advantage 
. It's all about maintaining public support and shielding themselves from criticism - but what about the rest of us? What about transparency and accountability? 
. I mean, if they're gonna do something shady, at least have the balls to admit it, right? 
But nope, they'd rather keep it quiet and hope nobody notices 
. This whole thing is just super sketchy 
.
. I mean, come on, they're basically just making it up as they go along and expecting no one to notice. And now we've got some loophole that allows them to pay military personnel without Congress's approval? Yeah, because that's totally not a power grab 
. This is exactly why we can't trust politicians to handle the money 
.
This is so messed up... like seriously, who gets to decide how the government spends money? Not just Congress, but also some guy in the White House making "creative" decisions that might not be super legit