The US government’s shutdown is a political battle on all fronts, and even though the military is one of the least impacted parts of the government, it has become one of the centerpieces for the political wrangling.
Officials, particularly President Trump, are trying to brand the shutdown as proof that the other side don’t support the troops, and that the cuts are a threat to national security. But what is actually happening to the military?
Not much. With materially everything military-related branded “essential,” it continues untouched. The one thing that’s not happening is that the troops aren’t being immediately paid. Rather, the troops will have to wait for back pay until after the deal is finally reached.
That really doesn’t have an impact on national security, not indeed is there any indication any other part of the shutdown does, as the “essential” services were stretched so far that the Armed Forces Network was still broadcasting the NFL playoffs on Sunday afternoon as “essential” services.
