https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/01/trumps_shutdown_trap.html
Looks interesting, but I really doubt it will happen.
I've heard this from a few people. But looking at the list of agencies from this shut down, what's there to really cut? rif'ing a few tens of thousands of federal employees is a drop in the bucket.
People get wrapped up in the "non essential" bullshit.
Would you like to know what kind of non essential stuff isn't being done in my agency right now?
Aircraft and aircrew Inspections
Aircraft registrations
Commercial drone waivers
Procedures and airspace work
That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Let me tell you a little story:
IAD built a third runway a few years back. As part of the modernization of our equipment and procedures, we've been in the process of revamping all the instrument arrivals approaches to take full advantage of this. We expected to have it completed by the end of this year. These procedures would give us the ability to maintain a high arrival rate under almost all circumstances with less personnel needed to do so. It will save airlines time and money.
That project is now halted and will fall months behind schedule. At the same time, UAL is planning to increase traffic to IAD. Metro is full steam ahead on the IAD line that will connect IAD to DC via light rail/metro, which is expected to increase passenger counts for IAD. Other airlines are looking at increasing flights to IAD.
The people who were spearheading that work on our end are either deemed "non essential" and on furlough, or were controllers on detail who've been kicked back to the operation.
I know there are plenty of federal employees who *expletive deleted*ck about most of the day and don't do any real work. The idea that Trump knows exactly who they are, and has a master plan to rif out the lazy and useless ones is laughable.