Rachel Maddow exposes a very cruel act by the President as he cuts national guard deployment by one day to avoid giving them retirement and educational benefits.
Rachel Maddow exposes another Trump evil
Rachel Maddow reported the story written in Politico recently.
More than 40,000 National Guard members currently helping states test residents for the coronavirus and trace the spread of infections will face a “hard stop” on their deployments on June 24 — just one day shy of many members becoming eligible for key federal benefits, according to a senior FEMA official.
The official outlined the Trump administration’s plans on an interagency call on May 12, an audio version of which was obtained by POLITICO. The official also acknowledged during the call that the June 24 deadline means that thousands of members who first deployed in late March will find themselves with only 89 days of duty credit, one short of the 90-day threshold for qualifying for early retirement and education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI bill.
The looming loss of crucial frontline workers, along with questions about whether the administration is shortchanging first responders, would require a delicate messaging strategy, the official — representing FEMA’s New England region — told dozens of colleagues on the interagency call.
“We would greatly benefit from unified messaging regarding the conclusion of their services prior to hitting the 90-day mark and the retirement benefit implications associated with it,” the official said.
Top National Guard and other federal officials on the call did not dispute the June 24 cutoff or raise the possibility of an extension.
Trump and his cabal like to use the military for their photo ops. They make believe they care about the working class and the fighting class. Let them make the case now. Make sure your right-wing relative, friend, or acquaintance is aware of this.
Please join our YouTube channel so we can get the numbers up to open up some more features and reach more folks. Gracias
Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and join the conversation for more insightful commentary and to support progressive messages. Together, we can populate the internet with progressive messages that represent the true aspirations of most Americans.
wzrd1 says
Here’s a news flash from a veteran.
This isn’t news, it’s US government business as usual. Before the post 9/11 GI bill, duty tours were 179 days, as at 180 days, benefits were accrued. That’s been going on for at least 50 years and suddenly it’s new?!
That goes for both National Guard and reserve force members.
shafarnullifidian says
When in the past fifty years has the president, any president, having “called up”, i.e., deployed, the National Guard ended their deployments one day before other benefits would have begun to accrue? Your comment is forked tongue evasion to obfuscate Trump’s cruel-clown despicability.
Wzrd1 says
Lemme see, Honduras comes to mind, where guard and reserve were deployed for various road construction duties, 179 locked in stone, hell was raised for men injured and went beyond 179 days.
Initially, Bosnia was a 179 day thing, that got changed real quick due to the training and experience required.
I loathe to give him a lift of the shoulder from the mat, but this ain’t one to criticize him over or we need to criticize every POTUS for the last half century!
Unless you are further calling this veteran a liar as to what he experienced!
And if your point is undermined by real events, you lose ground as then the claim that other things you mention are false as well.
Still, it’s an easy mistake to make, ignoring when our reserves and guard are mobilized for “training” of one day shy of benefits. Hell, the only time we were ever noticed was after a disaster and “a new technology is being used to rescue the people waterbound in the hotel, a deuce and a half” (the technology in question was a WWII vintage 2 and a half ton cargo truck). Training missions that were that long, ignored by all but employers and family.
Wzrd1 says
Crap, hit enter at the wrong time and didn’t get my citations.
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/123983/reservists-may-face-limit-on-man-day-tours/
https://ec.militarytimes.com/guard-reserve-handbook/pay-benefits/other-benefits/
https://militarybenefits.info/pcs-tdy-deployments/
I guess our military speaks with a forked tongue as well!