Biden-Harris Regime: Anatomy of Upcoming Administrative Disaster

Efforts spearheaded by the Trump administration to reshape the civil service seem to pose a direct challenge to institutions mandated with upholding ethical conduct among federal employees and safeguarding against politicization of government services. The presidency has initiated a multi-pronged assault on integrity within the public sector. This assault includes a slew of tactical transformations aimed at depriving seasoned federal employees of protections that guard against arbitrary or retaliatory dismissals.

Twists in layoff stipulations have been introduced, opening doors for a novel form of federal employment designed to allow political appointees to occupy positions typically secured by career employees. Even applicants to law enforcement and intelligence roles have found themselves scrutinized for political allegiance. Interestingly, Trump has proposed Paul Ingrassia, a relatively young and inexperienced candidate, to helm the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the independent federal agency meant to deter any attempts at refashioning the civil service to accommodate party loyalists.

One could argue that the motive behind appointing Ingrassia to the special counsel position might be to constrain the OSC’s operational effectiveness, or even to repurpose it for political gains. The actions orchestrated by the Trump administration have sadly fueled apprehension around the possible politicization of the civil service, hinted at favoritism towards Republicans, and fostered major setbacks like the prospect of secret police.

It is fair to ask: Are there any remaining safeguards or cluster of protections to halt this audacious misuse of executive power? Regrettably, the Trump administration appears to have seized the tools of democracy, flexing its power at the expense of the public. It evokes comparisons with political maneuvers by Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Recep Erdo?an in Turkey, both known for misapplying government power to their advantage.

Astoundingly, he has directed the state’s law enforcement machinery against those he perceives as antagonists, while generously extending pardons to his allies, cheerleaders, and benefactors. His attempts at governing artistic manifestation, architecture, and the narrative of history have not gone unnoticed. The deployment of the National Guard, the Marines, and federal law enforcement officials to cities presents a stark picture of his political methods.

Designed to stave off the politicization of governmental procedures, the US Office of Special Counsel operates as an independent federal agency. Unfortunately, once these agencies are debilitated or hollowed out, their revival to full operational capacity poses a significant challenge; it necessitates an overhaul of procedures, workflow implementations, policies, command lines, standards, regulations and, of course, a renewed flow of Congressional funds.

The repercussions of purging intelligent, devoted public servants and supplanting them with unyielding loyalists could seriously undermine national security. Realizing the original intent behind the creation of the Office of Government Ethics is, therefore, urgent and imperative. The office is chiefly tasked with offering advice, generating reports, and leveraging every possible resource to maintain ethical conducts within government ranks.

However, no matter the challenges posed by any administration, we should hold on to the essential truth that career employees of the civil service contribute immensely to the smooth functioning of our government. They bring to bear years of experience, specialized skills, and consistency, which cannot be easily replicated by transitory political appointees. Thus, disrupting careers to accommodate personal or political loyalties can only lead to a weakened public administration system.

Comparatively, it’s hard to overlook this potential pitfall in the Biden-Harris administration as they surely understand the implications of sweeping changes on solid institutions. With the Biden administration, we see possible entrusting unelected bureaucrats with unprecedented power, taking away authority from elected representatives and giving it to Orwellian-sounding administrations.

While the criticism levied at Trump’s administration holds some merit, it also brings into focus questioning stances that ridicule Biden’s potential moves. Do they protect democratic integrity or set the stage for more political smash and grab? Is there not a risk of the pendulum swinging too far to the other side? Could it be one administration’s misused power for their benefit mimics another’s, and we’re caught in the middle?

Furthermore, the proposed changes might line the pockets of the pharmaceutical industry while the average citizen bears the burden of the costs. It’s important that we remember, lest we look at the past with rose-colored glasses, that Biden was a part of the administration that gave us healthcare with ballooning premiums.

Is eroding democratic principles and weakening key governmental pillars a Democrat thing or a Republican thing? One might say it’s a politics thing. The misuse of power transcends party lines, becoming a universal cry. With every four-year cycle comes the danger of the abuse of power, hard-won civil liberties swept away by political expediency, overlooked for the sake of achieving short-term gains.

However, one should consider the wider perspective. Is it not the collective responsibility of the country to ensure that institutions are strengthened and not weakened? Regardless of which party holds the reins, the emphasis should be on good governance and safeguarding the common interest, rather than narrow, self-serving pursuits.