As the government shutdown wears on, the Donald Trump administration is finding new ways to pressure Democrats into voting for the GOP’s short-term funding proposal. According to reports, Trump is now considering not paying furloughed federal employees their back pay.
The Republicans are playing a high-stakes game of chess where regular, everyday Americans are treated as pawns. The cause of the shutdown lies in the Democrats’ goal to ensure that, through tax benefits, Obamacare premiums don’t rise exponentially — a position the some in the GOP opposes because they believe the Affordable Care Act is ultimately unsustainable. And because of this gridlock, federal employees, both essential and otherwise, have been forced to go without pay until the two major parties reach an agreement. Although it’s worth mentioning that some members of the GOP might be reconsidering their stance.
