1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

This morning, the New York Times is reporting that Trump is stripping job protections for tens of thousands of federal employees. This is concerning on so many levels: • First and foremost it is yet another example of the president running roughshod over our system of checks and balances. The policies governing federal employees exist for reasons. One of those reasons is almost certainly to protect employees who insist on doing what their job and the allegiance to the Constitution demand of them when the president would like them to bend before him – in other words they are there to help ensure that our government works for us not for the benefit of the president, his donors, or his party. They are there to help prevent corruption. • This move is all but certain to result in a federal government that is less predictable with policy shifting at the whim of political expediency and the demands of those with influence over the president and agency leaders. That will make long term planning for everyone harder and it will damage our already fraying credibility in the world. •On top of this, it appears that whistle blower complaints will be handled internally within agencies. That is a recipe for corruption. It will certainly have a chilling effect on those who know of problems in their organizations. This decree needs to be challenged. Even if most Republicans in Congress remain unwilling to assert themselves and do their jobs, it is critical for Democrats to speak up. Democrats must continue to point out that the underlying goal of the MAGA movement is to establish a president with autocratic powers. If the Democrats are to survive they must begin to act like an opposition party. The Republican party has made it clear that they do not intend to honor their oaths to uphold and defend the Constitution. Please make your stance clear. Please be present in the state and accessible to your constituents. Failing to lead in these times is inexcusable.