Trump taps free government labor to execute political agenda

[Judi Lynn]

Agencies have called back thousands of furloughed federal employees, raising questions about whether the administration is favoring politically advantageous policies.

By NANCY COOK 01/16/2019 05:55 PM EST

The Trump administration is pushing the legal boundaries of a government shutdown, fueling fears that the president is manipulating federal agencies and workers to soften the political blow against him.

In recent days, agencies have called back to work thousands of furloughed federal employees, restarted services and pursued key policies at shuttered agencies. The activity has legal experts, administration officials and veterans of past shutdowns questioning what actually constitutes a government shutdown if the administration can simply resurrect its preferred services and à la carte policy to-do list nearly a month after funding technically expired for several agencies.

So far, the Trump administration has continued to plow forward on its controversial immigration policies, brought back workers to ensure government assistance gets to farmers and ranchers — a key constituency — and is weighing whether to recall workers would could assist in the federal rulemaking process that has been stymied during the shutdown, according to administration officials.

“What they are doing is making an obligation and policy without Congress’s approval,” said Barry Anderson, former deputy director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. “Congress is saying there is no money for this and Trump is still doing it.”

More:
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/16/trump-free-government-labor-shutdown-1106637

[htuttle]

1. Since he has no budget authority to call those people to work

...Trump must have personally hired them. We should send him a bill.

[FirstLight]

2. This is bullshit!!!!!!

and they are taking advantage not just of the workers ...but of the policies by side-stepping congress...

this cant be legal

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Add this to the articles of impeachment please.

[dalton99a]

4. +1