Whether or not they will hurt is irrelevant.
Whether something will hurt is not a litmus test for determining if it is the right thing to do. Surgery hurts. Chemo hurts.
Etc.
Life hurts (sometimes)...
Not only was this the right thing to do, to do otherwise is ILLEGAL. Spending money from the government till without legislation and the funds to do it with is a crime.
but feelings matter more than anything, even doing the right thing. /s