President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media at the White House on September 16. Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Donald Trump seems to view federal funds like a personal presidential piggy bank.

His warning Tuesday that some furloughed workers may not, as is customary, get back pay when the government shutdown ends was the latest sign that he regards public money sent to Washington by taxpayers and the states as a personal slush fund to spend as he sees fit.

He’s happy to entertain spending on programs he favors — for instance, vast bailouts for farmers routed by his tariffs or rescue plans for friendly global populists like his friend President Javier Milei of Argentina .

But when the bill comes due for things he hates, or for projects important to his politi

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