President Trump Could Save A Billion Dollars A Week If He Does Not Sign Bill To Give Workers Back Pay

President Donald Trump could save taxpayers approximately one billion dollars per week of the government shutdown if he refuses to sign legislation that would guarantee back pay for the furloughed or otherwise non-working, non-essential government employees.

The mainstream media is reporting that Trump is prepared to sign the back-pay bill that went to his desk two days ago, but Trump has not signed anything, and to do so would knock out some of his leverage over Schumer and Pelosi — which does not seem like it would be in line with “Art of the Deal” policy.

The shutdown — in which 800,000 workers are not working– is saving taxpayers more than two billion dollars for every two-week pay period, but the savings will only count if Trump chooses not to give them back pay.

Here is a chart on the savings, courtesy of the Center for American Progress: