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1. Hold Federal Tax Payments in Escrow States and cities process billions in federal tax payments from their employees. These payments flow to Washington automatically, but automatic is not mandatory. States could hold these funds until the federal government certifies it has met its own obligations. No constitutional provision requires states to immediately forward federal taxes while waiting months for entitled federal payments. Make this an interstate compact for even more power. 2. Charge Federal Facilities Market Rates for Everything Every military base and federal building depends on state-funded infrastructure. Roads, snow removal, emergency services. States have traditionally absorbed these costs. Tradition is not law. When a military base calls for emergency services, bill them at market rates. The Pentagon's budget assumes free state services. That assumption is optional. 3. Apply Federal Standards to Federal Payments When states request entitled funds, they face months of documentation requirements and delays. States can apply the same standards to federal tax transfers. Every payment can require comprehensive documentation, multi-level review, and accuracy verification. If processing a federal grant takes 18 months, processing federal tax transfers can take 18 months too. 4. Form an Interstate Compact for Fiscal Fairness The Constitution allows interstate compacts, though Congress must approve those affecting federal power. Donor states can achieve the same result through coordinated state legislation without requiring a formal compact. New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and Massachusetts passing identical escrow laws on the same day creates collective leverage without needing Congressional permission. These states could establish uniform procedures for federal payment processing during funding disputes. When the federal government withholds congressionally appropriated funds, coordinated states simultaneously implement reciprocal delays. Individual states invite retaliation. Ten states acting together change the conversation. 5. Convert Every State Service to Fee-for-Service Road maintenance to federal facilities? Calculate actual costs per mile. Water and sewer connections to federal buildings? Full municipal rates, no subsidies. State police responding to federal property? Invoice for each call. Environmental monitoring around military bases? Hourly billing for state inspectors. The federal government assumes these services are free. They're subsidized and subsidies can end. These strategies will face constitutional challenges, particularly regarding the Supremacy Clause. But the Supremacy Clause only protects lawful federal action. Withholding congressionally appropriated funds violates the Appropriations Clause and the Impoundment Control Act. States enforcing reciprocal standards are defending the rule of law, not defying it. Making these things happen will require state action. It starts with focusing on state treasurers and state budget committee chairs who understand finances, as well as attorneys general who would be defending these measures in court. Contact them directly. Ask when then they'll be taking action to implement these strategies. Share this with policy organizations in donor states. Make "fiscal leverage" something every state official has to address. Will there be lawsuits? Yes. But litigation with leverage beats litigation without it. When both parties can inflict fiscal pain, they find solutions. When only one can, they don't. States have accepted a fiction that federal fiscal dominance is constitutionally required. It's not. These strategies are all worth fighting for, all at least arguably constitutional, and all completely available to states willing to assert their actual authority rather than their assumed subordination. Ultimately, bending the knee has never stopped autocrats. Not once. It's time to defund fascism. The Existentialist Republic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.