Let’s get this straight – a federal judge in California, Judge William Alsup, just called out the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for being completely out of line, and I’m not surprised, are you? I mean, who needs laws and regulations when you’ve got billionaire pals like Elon Musk pulling the strings, right? (Can someone please explain to me why we’re still allowing billionaires to run the show?)
But, I digress – Alsup basically said that OPM has no authority to hire and fire employees at other agencies, which is just basic common sense, if you ask me. And, as if that wasn’t enough, OPM also falsely claimed that the terminations were performance-based, because, you know, who needs facts when you’re trying to push an agenda? (I’m starting to think that the dystopian novels were actually instructional manuals…) And let’s not forget the court documents that reveal the truth behind OPM’s actions.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Will this ruling actually change anything?” And, honestly, I’m not holding my breath, because, let’s be real, this is just a small victory in a long, exhausting battle against the forces of chaos and destruction. But, hey, at least it’s a start, right? (Did I mention that I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we’re living in a world where judges have to remind government agencies that they can’t just make up their own rules?) And, according to Bloomberg Law, the ruling affects several agencies, including the National Park Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
And, while we’re on the topic of agencies, can someone please tell me why the Trump administration is so dead set on gutting the Social Security Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other key federal bodies? Is it just me, or does it seem like they’re trying to create some kind of dystopian hellscape? (I mean, what’s next – are they going to start promoting the Handmaid’s Tale as a model for society?)
But, I suppose that’s a topic for another time – back to the ruling at hand. So, Alsup’s decision is being hailed as a victory for federal employees, but, let’s be real, it’s just a small step in a long, long battle against the forces of darkness. (Can someone please pass the coffee – I think I need a refill to get through this mess…) As Politico noted, the ruling doesn’t necessarily mean that the fired workers will get their jobs back, but it’s a start.
And, on a completely unrelated note, has anyone else noticed that the federal employee unions are actually doing some pretty amazing work to protect their members? I mean, Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, is saying all the right things, but, let’s be real, it’s going to take a lot more than just words to fix this mess. (Did I mention that I’m still waiting for someone to explain to me why we’re allowing billionaires to dictate policy?)
But, hey, at least there are some people out there who are fighting the good fight – like Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, who’s speaking truth to power and calling out the administration’s “disdain for federal employees and desire to privatize their work.” (Can someone please give this guy a medal or something?)
And, finally, can someone please tell me why the Trump administration is so obsessed with gutting the EPA and other agencies? Is it just me, or does it seem like they’re trying to create some kind of environmental apocalypse? (I mean, what’s next – are they going to start promoting the use of plastic straws and single-use water bottles?)