Trump recently signed two veterans bills into law. Here’s how they’ll affect you.

That’s a glitch I can agree with. Why again are there non essential government employees? SFC Casey O'Mally

LTC (Join to see) I can see a use for SOME "non-essential" employees, such as Park Rangers. If the National Parks close, the government keeps running, and CAN keep running in perpetuity. However those parks were set aside for the people, and the people aren't getting the use of their parks, so we SHOULD have the Rangers (and the cleaning crews, etc.) under normal operations.

But, for the most part, I agree with you. If you aren't essential, then go find another job that doesn't require public funding.

However, the situation right now is that a crap-ton of folks ARE essential, are working full time or even overtime, and still not being paid. Which REALLY sucks.

When this happened I. 2013, military was one of the groups that was in danger of not getting paid. Luckily that shutdown was resolved in time, but I remember how worrying it was trying to figure out which bills I would have to let go late if pay didn't come through on the 1st.

I understand. But the private sector has no comparison. They don’t get back pay. They get fired. No one cared when President Obama signed the oil moratorium that effectively fired thousands of private sector workers. The MSM did not support them or the politicians. But now we have a travesty. I’m not buying it. SFC Casey O'Mally

LTC (Join to see) But they are at least free to find another job to put food on the table or collect unemployment. Imagine in the civilian sector if you were forced to work, because you are "essential," but the owner was allowed to pay you whenever he decided he felt like he now had enough money to afford to pay you. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe next month. Who knows?

The government would be so far down that business's throat that the business would be fined out of existence. But when the GOVERNMENT does it, well, hey. It just happens sometimes. Nothing to be done, oh well.