The federal government remains shut down, in what is now the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Many federal workers have missed paychecks, including air traffic controllers, who are working unpaid.

The historic government shutdown has entered Day 42 and continues — though, the Senate already approved a deal to end the shutdown during Monday night's vote, which now heads to the House for a vote.

President Donald Trump’s unrelenting assault on the federal workforce has prompted many progressives to leap reflexively to government’s defense. Some progressives, however, are acknowledging the need ...