A stupid question

President Obama has just cut a federal employees' pay raise from 2.4 to 2.0 percent.

Since the 2.4 raise was already agreed to, what is the authority Obama cites?

"Title 5, United States Code, authorizes me to implement an alternative pay plan if I view the adjustments that would otherwise take effect as inappropriate due to 'national emergency or serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare,' Obama wrote in Monday's letter. 'A national emergency, within the meaning of chapter 53 of title 5, has existed since September 11, 2001. Likewise, with unemployment at 9.5 percent in June to cite just one economic indicator, few would disagree that our country is facing serious economic conditions affecting the general welfare."

So, according to HopeChange we are and have been in a national emergency ever since 9/11. So my stupid question is, drum roll...

Will the 9/11 emergency ever be over?

The stupid answer is - of course not, not unless we can someday have a bigger, better emergency.
And now there's more money for the banksters!
(h/t Atrios)