> This happens semi-routinely, there is a boring reality that goes along with it. [...] retroactively paid in practice

An important difference is that in the past employees were furloughed... but yesterday Republicans threatened they would permanently fire employees instead [0][1] and I'm not sure how it'll shake out.

Their hostage-taking threat falls flat though: They already have have a solid track record of capricious and/or illegal firings [3][4] since the election. There's no reason to expect appeasement would make them stop what they still want to do anyway.

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[0] https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-trump-administr...

[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/unions-file-suit-t...

[2] https://www.npr.org/2025/09/25/nx-s1-5544317/federal-probati...

[3] https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/cre...