[quote=SK in CV]So without any legal basis, China gets paid before SS and other federal pension recipients?[/quote]
Social security is the easiest one to cut from a legal perspective. Your social security statement says social security can be changed with an act of congress.
Work already performed probably has legal standing as a debt, but I think they can probably pay that as well. They can also say cease and desist all future work and if that order wasn’t obeyed then obviously they could withhold payment.
