washington dc19 minutes ago
- copy link
US Defense Ministry Pentagon said on Friday that it has accepted a secret donation of $ 130 million (about Rs 1,100 crore) for the salaries of soldiers.
This donation has been given by an unknown ‘friend’ of President Donald Trump, so that the soldiers can get their salaries during the government shutdown. However, this donation has raised many questions.
Trump spoke about this donation at the White House on Thursday and called the donor a patriot. He did not reveal the name of the donor because he wants to hide his identity.
It has been 25 days since the government shutdown in America started on October 1. Both the major parties of America, Democrats and Republicans, are at loggerheads over the Obama Health Care Subsidy Program.
Democrats wanted to increase health care (health insurance) subsidies. Republicans fear that if subsidies are increased, the government will need more money to spend, which will affect other government functions.
The money will be used for soldiers’ salaries and other facilities.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that this money will be used for soldiers’ salaries and other facilities. He also accused the Democrats of stopping the salaries of the soldiers.
However, this $130 million is far less than the billions of rupees required to pay the soldiers’ salaries. Last week, the Trump government had arranged for $6.5 billion to pay salaries to the soldiers.
Now the next salary is to be given in a few days, and it is not clear how the government will arrange the money again. Salary of soldiers remains a big issue.
Last week, the government used some of the $8 billion kept for military research for salaries. But doing it again next week may be difficult.
Questions on donation rules and transparency
Max Stire, head of the Partnership for Public Service, described the donation as “bizarre” and said it did not seem right for soldiers’ salaries to be funded by private donations. He described it as ‘paying someone’s bar bill’. He raised questions on the rules and transparency of this donation.
Pentagon rules say that before accepting donations of more than $10,000, it is necessary to check whether the donor has any improper connection with the Defense Ministry. But the name of the donor and complete details of this donation have not been revealed yet.
The worst impact of the shutdown is on the airspace.
According to CNN, the worst impact of the shutdown is falling on air traffic controllers. These are considered essential employees, so despite the shutdown starting on October 1, they have to work continuously, but they are not getting salaries.
Thousands of controllers are struggling to meet their basic needs due to salary freeze. The situation is so bad that many controllers are forced to take up other jobs after finishing their regular shifts. They’re driving Uber, delivering food, or working in restaurants to make ends meet.
Effect of 25 days shutdown
- On staff: About 7.5 lakh government employees are on leave without salary. Essential employees like army, police, border security and air traffic controllers have to work without salary.
- Air Travel and Food Programme: Flights are being delayed and lower income families are at increasing risk of not receiving food assistance.
- Impact on tourism: The Smithsonian museums are closed. Trump said that they should probably be opened.
- Atomic Weapons Agency: The National Nuclear Security Agency has sent 1,400 employees on leave. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said this had never happened before and could affect the security of nuclear weapons.
Popular cases of shutdown in America
- In 2013, there was only one person looking after the 8,891 km long Canadian border with the US. He was responsible for the cleanliness of the entire border area. All the remaining employees were sent on leave.
- One and a quarter million American soldiers (mostly in the First and Second World Wars) have died in other countries. He is buried in 24 cemeteries around the world. Of these, 20 are in Europe. The US government bears the cost of their care. All of these cemeteries were closed when the shutdown occurred in 2013.
- During the 2018 shutdown, many employees were not going to work at the airport due to non-payment of salaries, due to which many flights were cancelled.
- In the 2018 shutdown, the FBI director warned that they were out of money, which was causing problems in their work.
——————————–
Read this news also…
Government employees living by food delivery in America: No salary for 22 days; Trump’s proposal rejected for the 11th time, second longest shutdown
Many government employees in America now have to survive by doing food delivery or temporary jobs. They are doing this to meet their daily needs and pay EMIs. Actually, due to the shutdown in the country, the salaries of 7.5 lakh government employees are withheld. Read the full news here…
Source link
[ad_3]
