Resistance from within: Federal workers push back against Trump
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/resistance-from-within-federal-workers-push-back-against-trump/ar-AAmts5m?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartanntp
The signs of popular dissent from President Trumps opening volley of actions have been plain to see on the nations streets, at airports in the aftermath of his refugee and visa ban, and in the blizzard of outrage on social media. But theres another level of resistance to the new president that is less visible and potentially more troublesome to the administration: a growing wave of opposition from the federal workers charged with implementing any new presidents agenda.
Less than two weeks into Trumps administration, federal workers are in regular consultation with recently departed Obama-era political appointees about what they can do to push back against the new presidents initiatives. Some federal employees have set up social media accounts to anonymously leak word of changes that Trump appointees are trying to make.
And a few government workers are pushing back more openly, incurring the wrath of a White House that, as press secretary Sean Spicer said this week about dissenters at the State Department, sends a clear message that they should either get with the program, or they can go.
At a church in Columbia Heights last weekend, dozens of federal workers attended a support group for civil servants seeking a forumto discuss their opposition to the Trump administration. And 180 federal employees have signed up for a workshop next weekend, where experts will offer advice on workers rights and how they can express civil disobedience.
Oh yes, these workers know they are risking their jobs for the resistance seeing how quickly Acting Attorney General Sally Yates got fired.
Youre going to see the bureaucrats using time to their advantage, said the employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. Through leaks to news organizations and internal complaints, he said, people here will resist and push back against orders they find unconscionable.
Most Trump orders are unconscionable.