The Shutdown, The Trap, and The RIF

[steve4102]

Oops looks like Pelosi and Schumer have been had again.  Only five days left for them to concede.

 https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/01/trumps_shutdown_trap.html

Has President Trump suckered Democrats and the Deep State into a trap that will enable a radical downsizing of the federal bureaucracy?  In only five more days of the already "longest government shutdown in history" (25 days and counting, as of today), a heretofore obscure threshold will be reached, enabling permanent layoffs of bureaucrats furloughed 30 days or more.

Don't believe me that federal bureaucrats can be laid off?  Well, in bureaucratese, a layoff is called a RIF – a Reduction in Force – and of course, it comes with a slew of civil service protections.  But, if the guidelines are followed, bureaucrats can be laid off – as in no more job.  It is all explained by Michael Roberts here (updated after the beginning of the partial shutdown):

 

This seems to be what was referenced in this remarkable essay written by an "unidentified senior Trump official" published in the Daily Caller, which vouches for the authenticity of the author and explains that it is protecting him from adverse career consequences should the name become known.  I strongly recommend reading the whole thing.

The purported senior official makes the case that devotion to "process" eats up most of the time of federal bureaucrats and is also used by enemies of President Trump's initiatives to stymie the legitimate orders issued by his senior officials:

If this was the plan all along, it would explain why President Trump goaded Chuck and Nancy in his televised meeting with them last year, boasting that he would claim credit for the shutdown.  How could they resist a prolonged shutdown when he made it so easy to blame him?

[willie-pete]

The Art of the Deal?

[Dric902]

Has Trump shown any inclination at all to do that?

or just dreaming

 

.

[Dric902]

 

 

 

Eventual good news for federal employees: the president has signed the shutdown back pay bill

 

[willie-pete]

No big deal; every President has signed the back pay bill for the 9 or so shutdowns that have occurred since 1980.

 

My sister just retired from the USDA after 30 odd years. She always looked on the shutdowns as paid vacations.

 

Which they were since she was non-essential.

[Dric902]

Did the other 9 presidents say they wouldn’t sign it

Edited January 17, 2019 by Dric902