Fucking Over Federal Employees As a Cost Savings?
Let's be honest: This proposed 'savings' is meant to pay for the tax cuts for the 1%
The idea that over half of the federal workers in government positions are redundant or unnecessary is fucking stupid. Those organizations were already one-person deep (meaning they are most likely the only people who can do their job) bc the federal government has been culling our personnel and resources for decades.
But not like this. No one is overseeing this reduction. Real people's lives are being ruined and the stress of it all will continue to be devastating. They are running out of options, and this administration continues to pump out EOs like there's no tomorrow, without care or a fucking basic understanding that the federal government is not a damn business but a foundational structure of our democracy.
Congress has the power to stop this insanity,
but instead they choose to tow the line,
kiss the ring, and lick the boot.
Why?
Because they want to keep their little cushy jobs.
Jobs that they wouldn't have without US.
People Taking the Direct Hit
These moves are further breaking the contract with veterans, who make up a large portion of the federal service. Didn’t the GOP swear they valued & wanted to protect us?
I've said once and I'll say it again:
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT VETERANS,
WHEN WE STAND BETWEEN THEM & THEIR MONEY.
Oh, and when they need an excuse to not help anyone else. You know, immigrants, the poor, our neighbors (definitely not theirs), children, the elderly, public schools… The list that goes on and on, while trampling on the programs and services they claim they passed for us, except they were forced more often than not to pass.
But we're not the only folks taking the hit. Many civilians found security and stability in federal service. Their work is specific, not that anyone in this administration knows anything about, much less the necessity of, it.
So what do these people do now?
Take the buyout and hope they can find a new job by September 30th when their paid ‘administrative leave’ is over?
Wait until next month and hope that they don’t get caught up in the Reduction In Force (RIF)?
Hope there's enough money in state-level unemployment systems, given how overwhelmed and underfunded these systems are right now due to the large number of unemployed federal employees?
Hope another federal job opens up for them before new EO's show up?
EOs That Affect Federal Employees
Like the recent one that says even if they manage to get a new job, they will have to deal with a redundant EO obstacle for probationary employees to be routinely and actively certified (1) to ensure that their position is in the best interest of the organization and the public. Because apparently the current system is 'too lenient'. My ass.
Disagree with the White House? Fired.
Management tries to skirt the requirement? Fired.
Or part of the GOP's budget bill (2) that states after 2029, new employees will be required to contribute almost 10% of their paycheck to their retirement system (FERS), which will pay for tax cuts for the 1%. Of course, they could opt to work at-will and lose their federal service protections, but that's fine, right? Right?!
Interestingly, some of the GOP isn’t having it.
“Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio said he would vote against his committee’s contribution to the party-line package to enact President Donald Trump’s policy agenda, noting his opposition to provisions that would slash employee benefits as a way of offsetting the cost of the larger legislation.” (3)
Between the dismantling of the federal government, the shitshow of the deportation issue, the skyrocketing cost of essentials, and the damage of the tariffs, it's all so overwhelming.
So, What Now?
Support organizations who are already fighting for us.
Contact your Congress people. Letters are great, but they have to get past staffers, who respond better to postcards and emails that tell them what you do and don't support. (Find your Congress people: House | Senate) Also, if you want to call but don’t know what to say, check out 5Calls.org. They provide a script for you to read.
Go to townhalls. Be loud, but safe. Don’t go alone, and make sure someone you trust is able to record if something goes down. (Find your nearest town hall here.)
Support the people in your local city, county and state government who are actively fighting Trump.
Run for office. Bernie Sanders has created a resource to “connect you with the people and organizations to get you on the ballot and run a successful campaign”.
There are more things here:
10 Concrete Things You Can Do to Resist Trump II by a trusted source, Robert Reich.
Sources
Probationary employees face stricter review process under new executive order
Republicans tee up federal worker benefit cuts to pay for tax cuts
House Republican says no way to party’s proposal to overhaul federal worker pension
Keep track of past and future executive orders with this tracker from Jdsupra.com.