How is that a distinction at all? What would it mean for the government, but not the taxpayers, to pay?
There was a famous intervention by the previous speaker of the house (Pelosi) saying “we are giving them our money”…
That is why I started by saying “nitpicking” but in the end, it is the State’s money (or the taxpayers’, which is equivalent), not the Government.
The government has no momey, it cannot pay anyone (in a Republic, mind you).