In a sign of the times and the seemingly inherent war footing the current administration is taking, it was little surprise to see many Departmet of Defense/War are getting a bonus of 15 to 25 percent (up to $25,000) of basic pay. per recent directives.
This trend continues despite the current administration’s ongoing push to cut federal spending and a miniscule pay raise for federal employees. There is a clear irony in the Trump administration’s rhetoric regarding fiscal restraint: while defense, Social Security, and interest on the national debt remain our largest budget line items, we continue to funnel money into foreign conflicts that the American public seems reluctant to support.
Ultimately, regardless of which party is in power, there appears to be little genuine interest in reducing the national debt. Instead, leadership prioritizes short-term political goals over fiscal responsibility, arguably to the long-term detriment of the American people.