Not legally, but it seems that he has the ability to stop payments from a techical perspective. The government has put employees on furlough before, but never during a time when money was appropriated by Congress. I would predict that it will cost much more in the longer run to simply shut down payments illegally than to go through Congress. I fear that Congress is on board with removing appropriated funds for no other reason than tribal loyalty to the leader of the cult of personality.
Not legally, but it seems that he has the ability to stop payments from a techical perspective. The government has put employees on furlough before, but never during a time when money was appropriated by Congress. I would predict that it will cost much more in the longer run to simply shut down payments illegally than to go through Congress. I fear that Congress is on board with removing appropriated funds for no other reason than tribal loyalty to the leader of the cult of personality.