"Trump's response has been confrontational-to say the least. Over the past week, in addition to posting racist memes about House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, the president has gloated at the chance a shutdown gives him to fire huge numbers of federal workers-this is on top of the 300,000 who have already departed federal government service since January. These won't be temporary layoffs or furloughs, Trump told NBC News, but " on a permanent basis.""
"This isn't a good-faith political negotiation; this is a hostage situation. Do exactly what Trump wants, the Democrats are being told, or hundreds of thousands of workers and their families will lose their careers, livelihoods, and means of putting food on the table. For Trump, these families are collateral damage in his power games. But for the people who took an oath to serve the American people, it is a potential catastrophe."
Republican refusal to fund healthcare subsidies triggered a government shutdown that risks tens of millions losing access to affordable insurance and threatens federal workers. The president responded by posting racist memes and celebrating the opportunity to fire large numbers of federal employees, claiming permanent layoffs rather than furloughs. About 300,000 federal workers have already left service since January. The standoff operates as a coercive tactic demanding concessions under threat of job loss. Many federal employees earn closer to $50,000 than the often-cited averages, live paycheck to paycheck, have meager savings, and would face severe financial hardship if pay cycles are missed.
Read at The Nation
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