Slate Daily Feed What Next | Actually the Government Shut Down Months Ago
Oct 2, 2025
David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, dives deep into the recent government shutdown dynamics. He discusses how the administration's selective fund withholding has led to a muted crisis atmosphere. Dayen highlights the essential services that remain intact and the peculiar strategies being employed to manage public perception. He also examines the role of OMB Director Russ Vought in centralizing spending power and comments on whether threats to fire federal workers are credible. This insightful discussion unpacks the intricate dance of power, politics, and public health.
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Slow-Motion Shutdown Already Happened
- The Trump administration has effectively withheld roughly $410 billion, nearly half of non-defense discretionary spending.
- That selective spending mimics a shutdown by letting the president pick what to fund rather than Congress.
Highlight Unpaid Federal Workers
- Recognize that many federal workers will work without pay during shutdowns, creating rapid financial stress.
- Supportedly press for policy or messaging that highlights those unpaid workers and their hardships to shift public sympathy.
Court Decisions Empower The Executive
- The Supreme Court rulings have strengthened presidential control over spending decisions.
- This shift erodes Congress's constitutional 'power of the purse' and centralizes fiscal authority in the executive.