[Opinionated Blowhard]

For most of their lives, federal workers in Mantua say, having “United States Treasury” atop their paycheck meant security

Well golly! Looks like these federal workers are now facing what pretty much every other American has been facing since, oh, about 1979. You can't go to work in a make-work job that overpays you day in and day out with the security of knowing the gravy train will continue anymore.

The truly sad part is that none of these workers are going to get laid off. $85 billion out of $3.7 trillion is a drop in the bucket and unless Obama intentionally inflicts pain, no one will notice it.

[muawiyah]

The patent office is engaged in a constitutionally required federal government function ~ bet you missed that part.

Now, tell us, would you rather have a meaningless patent office or one that works?

[USAF80]

You lump DOD in with all Federales. DOD is the backbone of defense. Only DOD is getting cut. It’s not across the board.

This is the dumbest thing they could do. The military is an essential service. You can’t just lay off and rehire like in the civilian world.