I think the current term for such people is 'shitstirrer'. Edit: but that seems too mild for people like Mace.

Might wanna check which publication this post links to.

You're right, I should double down.

Just remember laws evidently don't hold any real weight anymore so nothing is settled until it's settled. Here's one of many articles about intentions to block back pay: https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-back-bay-shutdown-785eb776d2312d1f68f7e91961d0a93a

Johnson, a lawyer, said he hadn’t fully read the memo but “there are some legal analysts who are saying” that it may not be necessary or appropriate to repay the federal workers.

Back-paying furloughed federal employees after a shutdown predates Trump, FYI. That’s been the policy for a long time. It was made a law during Trump’s first term.

Of course, now they are threatening to not back pay them or, at least, omitting language about back pay from letters to furloughed employees.

Federal employees will get back pay if that provision is in a bill that Congress will eventually pass. It's not a guarantee, as you stated.

Not that it makes it easy to go a month without a paycheck

isn't it common practice/advice in the USA to have a buffer ? I know not everyone has the opportunity to do so, but I taught my kids to aim for a buffer of at least 2x netto paycheck to cover emergencies/unforeseen. Or if the own a house, car etc aim for 8x. They still do that and it helped them to stay out of debt (other than for buying the house).