It was just a week or so ago that progressive congressional staffers were lobbying for a 32-hour work week. That was pretty ballsy, considering that DOGE is coming and looking into all those federal buildings that have been just about empty since the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a campaign fundraiser back in October, vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz warned federal workers that Donald Trump's plans for them were "terrifying." This was just a day after POLITICO ran a piece reporting that federal employees throughout the executive branch were panicking at the thought of another Trump administration. "Feds are sweating a Trump comeback," they wrote.
Trump did make a remarkable comeback, and now POLITICO is back with another piece interviewing federal workers who are "terrified" of the Trump administration.
‘I am terrified’: Workers describe the dark mood inside federal agencies https://t.co/vNOuaGmiRL
— POLITICO (@politico) January 25, 2025
They can console each other when they return to their offices.
POLITICO reports:
Just a few days into Trump’s second term, some federal workers are contemplating quitting. Others are preparing to file grievances with their unions or moving communications with each other to secure platforms like Signal. Some, fearing they’ll be caught up in the White House’s purge of diversity programs, are leaving their names off of memos and documents they worry could be labeled as DEI-adjacent.
…
At the State Department, the shutdown of those [DEI] programs was something many saw coming. But some were startled by the directive that they report individual cases of people’s job descriptions being changed to “disguise” the DEI element to a special Office of Personnel Management email address. Some saw it as an order to snitch on colleagues. Others, who prepared for Trump’s return to office, had begun working months ago with outside nonprofits to archive websites they feared would be taken down by the Trump administration — including information on ending gender-based violence around the world.
“I would love to leave, but I don’t know where I’d go, and I am terrified of not being able to pay rent and not having healthcare,” one State staffer said.
POLITICO spoke to almost two dozen federal workers for this article and granted anonymity to many in order to protect them from retribution for speaking out.
If your job was DEI officer, you should have always been worried about losing your job.
The Left has consistently stated that government employees sacrifice to serve the public, and could easily earn more in the private sector. They should welcome this impending change.
— Calvin Dodge (@caldodge) January 25, 2025
They can always just resign and get a real job.
— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) January 25, 2025
Ask a government contractor, and they will say most agencies can cut 70-80% of the staff. Many functions can be merged.
— Michael M (@unclemike741776) January 25, 2025
They're terrified about being responsible and coming in to work
— ERIK FINMAN (@erikfinman) January 25, 2025
That means it's working 👍
— Lili von Shtupp (@LvS_Redux) January 25, 2025
My schadenfreude is immeasurable right now.
— Dissident West (@dissidentwest) January 25, 2025
Welcome to every day in the private sector! What have you done for me lately.
— A_Ga_Voter (@AGaVoter1) January 25, 2025
It's a good thing Joe Biden created 16 million jobs, with plenty more available under the "Inflation Reduction Act," like building solar panels.
Stop. Stop. I can’t take any more winning and joy in my life.
— MT Richardson (@JackBurtonNole) January 25, 2025
No need to be terrified if you doing a job well that needs to be done.
— TE Hrdbl (@TE_Hrdbl) January 25, 2025
Good. Nobody is entitled to a job, especially one funded by taxpayers.
— Minnesota Refugee (@alisharl62) January 25, 2025
— David Speers (@speersdavid) January 25, 2025
These employees should have spent the last four years making themselves essential. Then they wouldn't have to be terrified.
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