US President Donald Trump tours a Honeywell International Inc. factory producing N95 masks during his first trip since widespread COVID-19 related lockdowns went into effect May 5, 2020, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)
Trump May Be Leaving But The Damage He Caused Isn't Going Anywhere
A Christmas poem and a plea for congressional oversight in the New Year.
Twas the week before Christmas
And all through DC
No lawmakers were stirring
Not even Speaker Nancy
Yet a crisis was brewing
All across the land
The post office was struggling
To keep up with demand
The stockings weren't hung
As they'd been delayed
The Republicans didn't care
They were still getting paid.
Democrats wouldn't fight
To get children their toys
And so Christmas was stolen
by Louis DeJoy
Congressional Oversight
Examples of House Democrats' failures to take on this administration, from the Postal Service to Schedule F, are piling up almost as fast as delayed Christmas presents this week. It caps off two damaging and politically disappointing years of shrinking from popular fights. For the sake of the country (and perhaps, more convincingly for Pelosi, the House majority), Democrats must resolve to finally confront and challenge Trump's legacy and its many ongoing effects in 2021.
For a brief moment over the summer, it seemed like House Democrats had finally overcome their aversion to oversight following outcry over service changes and protracted delays at the Postal Service. After a handful of weeks, another message bill, and some mild concessions from Postmaster General DeJoy, however, they soon lost interest. When presented with an opportunity to get more funding to the service via a government funding bill in September, Pelosi demurred, preferring to trade away the caucus' leverage with yet another "clean" package. Meanwhile, follow-up to ensure that DeJoy upheld his promises appears to have been limited. We're seeing the effects of that decision now. DeJoy's changes, alongside spiking coronavirus cases among carriers and above average package volume, are leading to major delays.
Even after Trump leaves, we'll be stuck with Louis DeJoy for a while (exactly how long depends on when Biden can get three Democratic governors on the USPS board, either through Senate confirmation or recess appointment). In the meantime, Democrats cannot merely resign themselves to severe, sometimes life-threatening mail delays. Oversight can help ensure service is maintained and, simultaneously, build pressure for DeJoy's eventual removal.
Democrats will also need to be closely monitoring personnel actions and their lasting effects in the Trump administration's waning days and beyond. So far they have shown little interest. Despite pleas from a broad coalition of good government groups, government unions, and employee associations, Congress failed to include a measure in this week's government funding bill to withhold funds from Trump's schedule F executive order. This latest and most blatant of Trump's attacks on the civil service may leave many senior civil servants at risk of being fired while opening avenues for political appointees to stay on and cause trouble for the next administration.
It's not yet clear how far the Trump administration will get with schedule F (they are not, after all, exactly known for their management or logistical prowess). No matter what, however, there is no doubt whatsoever that the incoming administration will face significant obstacles on the level of civil service attrition and politicization. These problems, particularly if left unaddressed, could frustrate Biden's ability to carry out his mandate and make his administration appear clumsy and inept. As we know, it is the House majority that most often pays for a president's missteps.
Examination of these attacks on the civil service should have begun much earlier (as we've repeatedly encouraged) but there are, nonetheless, real benefits to digging in now, even this late in the game. The Biden administration will be better-equipped to manage the landmines that Trump has left behind if Congress can help sketch out a map of where they are. Furthermore, drawing attention to their existence will help to direct blame and minimize the political fallout when Biden does stumble upon them.
None of these should be politically difficult fights. Americans of all stripes love the Postal Service and were outraged to see it come under attack. Democrats should leap at the opportunity to be seen as the one's defending it. The same goes for fighting on behalf of career civil servants like Anthony Fauci.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Twas the week before Christmas
And all through DC
No lawmakers were stirring
Not even Speaker Nancy
Yet a crisis was brewing
All across the land
The post office was struggling
To keep up with demand
The stockings weren't hung
As they'd been delayed
The Republicans didn't care
They were still getting paid.
Democrats wouldn't fight
To get children their toys
And so Christmas was stolen
by Louis DeJoy
Congressional Oversight
Examples of House Democrats' failures to take on this administration, from the Postal Service to Schedule F, are piling up almost as fast as delayed Christmas presents this week. It caps off two damaging and politically disappointing years of shrinking from popular fights. For the sake of the country (and perhaps, more convincingly for Pelosi, the House majority), Democrats must resolve to finally confront and challenge Trump's legacy and its many ongoing effects in 2021.
For a brief moment over the summer, it seemed like House Democrats had finally overcome their aversion to oversight following outcry over service changes and protracted delays at the Postal Service. After a handful of weeks, another message bill, and some mild concessions from Postmaster General DeJoy, however, they soon lost interest. When presented with an opportunity to get more funding to the service via a government funding bill in September, Pelosi demurred, preferring to trade away the caucus' leverage with yet another "clean" package. Meanwhile, follow-up to ensure that DeJoy upheld his promises appears to have been limited. We're seeing the effects of that decision now. DeJoy's changes, alongside spiking coronavirus cases among carriers and above average package volume, are leading to major delays.
Even after Trump leaves, we'll be stuck with Louis DeJoy for a while (exactly how long depends on when Biden can get three Democratic governors on the USPS board, either through Senate confirmation or recess appointment). In the meantime, Democrats cannot merely resign themselves to severe, sometimes life-threatening mail delays. Oversight can help ensure service is maintained and, simultaneously, build pressure for DeJoy's eventual removal.
Democrats will also need to be closely monitoring personnel actions and their lasting effects in the Trump administration's waning days and beyond. So far they have shown little interest. Despite pleas from a broad coalition of good government groups, government unions, and employee associations, Congress failed to include a measure in this week's government funding bill to withhold funds from Trump's schedule F executive order. This latest and most blatant of Trump's attacks on the civil service may leave many senior civil servants at risk of being fired while opening avenues for political appointees to stay on and cause trouble for the next administration.
It's not yet clear how far the Trump administration will get with schedule F (they are not, after all, exactly known for their management or logistical prowess). No matter what, however, there is no doubt whatsoever that the incoming administration will face significant obstacles on the level of civil service attrition and politicization. These problems, particularly if left unaddressed, could frustrate Biden's ability to carry out his mandate and make his administration appear clumsy and inept. As we know, it is the House majority that most often pays for a president's missteps.
Examination of these attacks on the civil service should have begun much earlier (as we've repeatedly encouraged) but there are, nonetheless, real benefits to digging in now, even this late in the game. The Biden administration will be better-equipped to manage the landmines that Trump has left behind if Congress can help sketch out a map of where they are. Furthermore, drawing attention to their existence will help to direct blame and minimize the political fallout when Biden does stumble upon them.
None of these should be politically difficult fights. Americans of all stripes love the Postal Service and were outraged to see it come under attack. Democrats should leap at the opportunity to be seen as the one's defending it. The same goes for fighting on behalf of career civil servants like Anthony Fauci.
Twas the week before Christmas
And all through DC
No lawmakers were stirring
Not even Speaker Nancy
Yet a crisis was brewing
All across the land
The post office was struggling
To keep up with demand
The stockings weren't hung
As they'd been delayed
The Republicans didn't care
They were still getting paid.
Democrats wouldn't fight
To get children their toys
And so Christmas was stolen
by Louis DeJoy
Congressional Oversight
Examples of House Democrats' failures to take on this administration, from the Postal Service to Schedule F, are piling up almost as fast as delayed Christmas presents this week. It caps off two damaging and politically disappointing years of shrinking from popular fights. For the sake of the country (and perhaps, more convincingly for Pelosi, the House majority), Democrats must resolve to finally confront and challenge Trump's legacy and its many ongoing effects in 2021.
For a brief moment over the summer, it seemed like House Democrats had finally overcome their aversion to oversight following outcry over service changes and protracted delays at the Postal Service. After a handful of weeks, another message bill, and some mild concessions from Postmaster General DeJoy, however, they soon lost interest. When presented with an opportunity to get more funding to the service via a government funding bill in September, Pelosi demurred, preferring to trade away the caucus' leverage with yet another "clean" package. Meanwhile, follow-up to ensure that DeJoy upheld his promises appears to have been limited. We're seeing the effects of that decision now. DeJoy's changes, alongside spiking coronavirus cases among carriers and above average package volume, are leading to major delays.
Even after Trump leaves, we'll be stuck with Louis DeJoy for a while (exactly how long depends on when Biden can get three Democratic governors on the USPS board, either through Senate confirmation or recess appointment). In the meantime, Democrats cannot merely resign themselves to severe, sometimes life-threatening mail delays. Oversight can help ensure service is maintained and, simultaneously, build pressure for DeJoy's eventual removal.
Democrats will also need to be closely monitoring personnel actions and their lasting effects in the Trump administration's waning days and beyond. So far they have shown little interest. Despite pleas from a broad coalition of good government groups, government unions, and employee associations, Congress failed to include a measure in this week's government funding bill to withhold funds from Trump's schedule F executive order. This latest and most blatant of Trump's attacks on the civil service may leave many senior civil servants at risk of being fired while opening avenues for political appointees to stay on and cause trouble for the next administration.
It's not yet clear how far the Trump administration will get with schedule F (they are not, after all, exactly known for their management or logistical prowess). No matter what, however, there is no doubt whatsoever that the incoming administration will face significant obstacles on the level of civil service attrition and politicization. These problems, particularly if left unaddressed, could frustrate Biden's ability to carry out his mandate and make his administration appear clumsy and inept. As we know, it is the House majority that most often pays for a president's missteps.
Examination of these attacks on the civil service should have begun much earlier (as we've repeatedly encouraged) but there are, nonetheless, real benefits to digging in now, even this late in the game. The Biden administration will be better-equipped to manage the landmines that Trump has left behind if Congress can help sketch out a map of where they are. Furthermore, drawing attention to their existence will help to direct blame and minimize the political fallout when Biden does stumble upon them.
None of these should be politically difficult fights. Americans of all stripes love the Postal Service and were outraged to see it come under attack. Democrats should leap at the opportunity to be seen as the one's defending it. The same goes for fighting on behalf of career civil servants like Anthony Fauci.