House approves Rep. Marjorie Greene’s amendment: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s salary reduced to $1.
House Republicans Slash Defense Secretary’s Salary to $1 Amid Budget Gridlock
Amid a budget gridlock that could result in a government shutdown, House Republicans have made a bold move by approving an amendment to drastically reduce U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s annual salary to just $1. This amendment, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), was passed in a voice vote as part of the 2024 fiscal year appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).
“I’m proud to let you know my amendment to FIRE Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin just passed on the House floor,” Ms. Greene wrote on Twitter following the amendment’s passage.
Rep. Greene expressed her dissatisfaction with Secretary Austin’s leadership, stating, “Under his failed leadership, our military is being destroyed, and he doesn’t deserve to serve any longer. This is the first time in the 118th Congress the Holman rule has been used to hold a Biden official accountable. It’s time for more.”
The Holman Rule, a provision that allows members of Congress to take action during the appropriations process, such as reducing salaries or firing federal employees, has been revived by the GOP-led House for the 118th Congress. Rep. Greene’s amendment is a direct implementation of this rule.
Secretary Austin’s salary, which currently exceeds $221,000, will now be limited to $1 as stated in the provision: “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay Defense Secretary Lloyd James Austin III a salary that exceeds $1.”
Ms. Greene and other conservatives in the House have been critical of Secretary Austin’s handling of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The disastrous end of the 20-year war resulted in the deaths of over 180 people, including 13 service members.
Austin Faces Impeachment
In addition to the salary reduction, Secretary Austin is also facing impeachment for “high crimes and misdemeanors” related to his actions leading up to and during the military’s exodus from Afghanistan. Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) introduced articles of impeachment, accusing Mr. Austin of “dereliction of duty including and resulting in abandonment of Americans in Afghanistan.”
Despite the controversy surrounding his tenure, Secretary Austin was nominated by then-president-elect Joe Biden in December 2020 and confirmed by the Senate in January 2021. However, his performance during the withdrawal has raised significant concerns.
The State Department released an “After Action Review on Afghanistan” earlier this year, which analyzed the decisions made by both the Trump and Biden administrations leading up to the withdrawal. The report concluded that these decisions contributed to the disastrous situation in Afghanistan.
Why do critics argue that slashing Secretary Austin’s salary to $1 is an extreme and dangerous precedent that undermines the importance of the role and interferes with the functioning of government agencies?
For their actions.”
The Holman rule, which allows Congress to reduce the salary of individual federal employees, was reinstated in 2017 after being dormant for over 30 years. It gives lawmakers the power to target specific officials and reduce their salaries to as low as $1. The amendment to reduce Secretary Austin’s salary was seen as a direct rebuke of his leadership and a way to hold him accountable for the perceived failures of the military under his command.
While the move may seem symbolic, it highlights the deep divisions and contentiousness surrounding the budget negotiations and the role of the Secretary of Defense. The budget gridlock between House Republicans and Democrats has put the government at risk of a shutdown, further escalating the tensions and making political battles like this one even more significant.
Critics argue that slashing Secretary Austin’s salary to $1 is an extreme and petty measure that does not address the real issues at hand. They believe that it undermines the importance of the role and the complexities of managing the nation’s defense. Furthermore, they argue that it sets a dangerous precedent by allowing Congress to target specific individuals and interfere with the functioning of government agencies.
Supporters, on the other hand, see this as a necessary step to hold Secretary Austin accountable for what they perceive as his failures and mismanagement. They believe that reducing his salary sends a strong message and puts pressure on him to address the concerns raised by Republicans and address the issues within the military.
Regardless of one’s stance on the matter, this move by House Republicans underscores the intense partisanship and the high-stakes nature of budget negotiations. As the deadline to pass a budget approaches, both sides are digging in their heels and using any means available to gain leverage and push their agendas.
The drama surrounding the defense secretary’s salary reduction is just one example of the larger battle being waged over government spending and the allocation of resources. As both parties continue to clash, the risk of a government shutdown looms large, presenting significant challenges for the functioning of the government and the lives of millions of Americans.
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