The government was suspended and military pay was suspended. The United States had gathered all the factors that caused the outbreak of the "civil war". At this critical moment, Trump had to rein in at the brink of the precipice and make important decisions.
(Trump orders U.S. Defense Secretary to "use all funds" to secure the deployment of troops)
In spite of paying out the state treasury, Trump forces the army.
The U.S. federal government has recently faced its first “stagnation” in seven years, a political crisis sparked by the Senate’s failure to pass a temporary allocation bill that has lasted for more than a week, forcing about 600,000 federal employees to go on unpaid leave.
Just as the political storm intensified, Trump posted a statement on his social media platform that he had ordered Defense Secretary Hertz "to use all available funds" to ensure payments to 1.3 million active soldiers by 15 days.
According to informed officials, if the government shutdown lasts until the 15th, the Pentagon plans to mobilize about $8 billion of research and development funding unallocated in the previous fiscal year, which was originally used for military and technological innovation, but now needs to remove the East Wall to replenish the West Wall, exposing the deep crisis of the U.S. military financial system.
(The Pentagon plans to mobilize 8 billion unallocated research and development funds in the previous fiscal year)
In a statement, Trump blamed the Democratic Party for the government shutdown entirely, claiming that “democrats will not allow dangerous government shutdowns to jeopardize the military and national security.”
Day 2 – Loans are absurd.
At the same time as Trump high-profilely announced the security of the military, the anxiety of the U.S. military grassroots soldiers continued to ferment. The Pentagon's recently proposed "loan day" scheme made many soldiers both ridiculous and angry. This scheme, dubbed the "U.S. military school loan" scheme, suggests that officers apply for interest-free loans to specific financial institutions, until the government reinstates operation and repay with subsidized military loans.
More ridiculously, the military guidelines also recommended that officers and their families "actively contact the military and civilian relief agencies." This translates to allowing the Guard of the Family's soldiers to go to food banks in line for relief like street wanderers. This suggestion is undoubtedly an infringement on the dignity of the military and also exposes the hurry and inability of the U.S. government to cope with the crisis.
(US officers and soldiers expressed dissatisfaction with the inability to ensure basic living conditions)
A German soldier tweeted: “How can we keep fighting if even basic lives are not guaranteed?” which questioned the hearts of millions of U.S. soldiers. Ironically, just a few days ago, these soldiers were still in the cold of Washington to serve for Trump’s massive parade.
Trump's promise at the naval parade is still ringing in his ears, but in a blink of an eye, he has to let the officers and men live by borrowing money. This inconsistency between words and deeds is eroding the army's trust in the commander-in-chief. An anonymous officer said privately: "We are not afraid of going to battle, but we are afraid of our families starving."
Military warranty order, guarantee order.
While American soldiers are worried about their mortgages next month, the political game in Washington has taken an interesting turn. Trump's "special affairs and special affairs" military pay guarantee order seems to have solved the urgent needs of soldiers, but in fact it hides a mystery.
The decision in turn weakened pressure on Congress to end government shutdowns as soon as possible, making the political impasse likely to last for a third week or even longer.
Military warfare stopped, but U.S. military operations in Latin America continue
Ironically, at a time when the country is in chaos, American military operations in Latin America have not been affected at all. The Pentagon announced the establishment of a new joint anti-drug task force in a high-profile manner, led by the Second Marine Expeditionary Team to carry out operations in Latin America.
Trump's "selective operation" has exposed the deep contradictions of the American political system. On the one hand, soldiers are waiting to be paid, civil servants are facing unemployment, and vulnerable groups are losing medical security. On the other hand, overseas military operations continue as usual, and even troops are sent to cities controlled by the Democratic Party to "maintain public order".
This striking contrast, just like Trump’s famous phrase, “This is life”—just a life of dignity, not the life of ordinary people.