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Trump’s Attack on Federal Workers’ Rights Continues Efforts to Harm Americans, Undermine Democracy
Donald Trump has been gutting the federal government since he took office, whether by leaving many vacant positions unfilled or simply underfunding and eliminating positions in crucial agencies such as the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The latter efforts greatly hobbled the CDC’s ability to respond and take measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the United States and abroad.
As usual, Trump both resents and resists the knowledge the experts typically staffing these agencies bring to the table in the mission of keeping the American people informed and advising on efforts to keep the American people safe. Just look at his antipathy toward Anthony Fauci.
Trump insists on having the power to misinform the people as he wishes. As he likes to say, what does science know? Or, as he also likes to say, let them drink bleach to cleanse themselves of the coronavirus.
Most recently, his hatred of expertise and his desire to politicize all government service agencies and knowledge itself has motivated him to issue an executive order that strips important protections from career federal employees, making it easier to hire those civil servants typically working on policy.
