Work for a Federal Agency? Get Yourself Ready!

[MineralMan]

On Facebook today, this guy who is a friend of a friend on FB posted some crap about how getting rid of Obamacare would be a great thing. Someone pointed out that it's OK for him, since he works for a government agency and has health insurance partly paid for by his employer.

The conversation went on, and he said that he works for the FDA. I mentioned that the FDA was one of the agencies the Trump Administration wants to slash, and asked him what he'd do if his position was one of the ones to get cut. What would he do about health insurance if that happened? Does he or his family have any pre-existing conditions, I asked?

That set him back a bit. The reality is that he's very possibly going to be fodder for the Trump slashing of government agency budgets. I think this was the first time he ever thought about that. He said that, yes, his wife had an issue, and so does one of his kids. I asked him how those HSAs were going to work for him if he had no job. He didn't have an answer for that.

Bottom line is that Trump wants to shrink government by shutting down or severely downsizing agencies that are regulatory in nature. The FDA is one such agency. He can make huge changes in agencies that are part of the Executive Branch's responsibility, and it looks like he's planning to do just that.

So, now that conservative public servant on FB has something new to think about. I think that's good. His safe job and health insurance may not be as safe as he thinks.

So, if you work for the federal government, ask yourself whether your job is really secure under a Trump Administration. If it issues regulations or is connected to public safety or anything like that, odds are your job is at risk. Talk to your co-workers. Let them know that they may be needing Obamacare sooner than they think.

[rzemanfl]

1. K&R n/t

[TBA]

2. You do what I do when responding to drumph supporters on facebook

I ask them pointed questions. They rarely reply.

[Skittles]

24. I have noticed that too

when I ask them to reply with facts and NOT MENTION HILLARY, they have *NOTHING*

[logosoco]

3. Interesting.

I am also a bit alarmed that someone who could not realize that about their health insurance works for the FDA!

[MineralMan]

6. All sorts of people work for the FDA.

Liberals, conservatives, and everything in between. It's a job. Not everyone works at a place with a plan to change the world. It's a job.

And lots of people who work for federal agencies think their job is a lifelong career. They're counting on that job to keep them in groceries, cover their mortgage payments and provide health insurance and a retirement program. They're wrong. Donald Trump wants to put an end to all that. He hates regulations. He hates science. He hates climate change. He hates do-gooders. If he can, he will wade into those agencies and slash them to the bone.

And I think he probably can. Just wait until you see a budget proposal coming from the White House. Without appropriations, agencies will either close their doors or not be able to do anything.

Trump wants that. Conservatives want that. The Republican Congress wants that. They've all wanted that for a very long time, and now they can do it. They'll start with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Endowment for the Arts. Then, they'll move on to the Education Department, the EPA, OSHA and a long string of other organizations they see as having a liberal mission.

There are going to be thousands and thousands of jobs gone due to this over the next year or two.

[SammyWinstonJack]

19. Well, that should MAGA. Thanks trump supporters.

[LisaM]

26. He hates job security.

I think people work better in an environment not laden with fear.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

27. tRump does not have job security as the employee of the people. Impeach him & convict. . . nt

[Wellstone ruled]

30. It is just a job like you say.

Fifty Per cent of the MSP/TSO's voted for Trump. Most are bitching to the Union Stewards about the same story you posted. Lead Stew,tough shit,you would not listen.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. I am retired from a major airline.

My job was related to flight safety, and we had to be sure to comply with FAA regulations. FAA personnel called APMs (aircrew program managers) had offices on site and we talked to them all the time. They were not oppressive, but we had to be sure we were always in compliance. Some of the regs are kind of a PITA because of the required record-keeping, but If the FAA is required to cut their regulations by 75% as Trump is considering for government agencies, I'd never get on another airplane. Those rules are written in blood, no shit. And if their staff is cut, even the remaining regs won't be enforced.

[MineralMan]

7. Exactly. The consequences of slashing through government regulations will

be awful. And, as usual, Donald Trump don't care. Conservatives don't care. Republicans in Congess don't care.

This is their plan to dismantle government. They can do it, too, as quickly as they come up with a budget and appropriations bills. All they have to do is take the money away and those agencies are history as actual functioning oversight agencies. This is what conservatives have been planning for decades. Now, they can do it, and they will.

[GeoWilliam750]

22. Bannon said it to the Vatican

“Lenin,” he answered, “wanted to destroy the state, and that’s my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of today’s establishment.”

[Bernardo de La Paz]

29. tRump wants to institute Tombstone Safety Mentality: when a plane crashes, take a look at the bodies

Until then, don't worry! Who needs regulations?

If tRump slashes regulations, let's track how much he benefits, and especially if he continues to follow them on his own plane as one example.

Let's see if his restaurants obey regulations before and after they get slashed.

[lostnfound]

31. Airline here too -- do you really think it would apply?

I've been wondering too. But all it would take is a law from congress requiring that airlines keep a 121 certificate by remaining in compliance with Federal Aviation "guidelines" (instead of regulations) and wouldn't that allow the complicated set of rules that have made airlines and airplanes safe for the last fifty years stay intact?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

32. Federal regulations have the force and effect of law,

so "guidelines" would be pretty meaningless. There probably are some out-of-date regulations that could be repealed, but Trump's GOP could accomplish basically the same goal of deregulation by cutting the FAA's staff to the point where they can't effectively monitor compliance. Even with the best intentions people will get sloppy and will cut corners to save money. That's human nature. Airlines obviously don't want accidents, but without oversight the inevitable will happen. Inspections won't happen; MELs will be deferred, and underpaid, poorly trained regional pilots won't know how to recover from stalls on approach.

[lostnfound]

33. I agree and fear the same.

And I too will refrain from flying, in that scenario.

[Guilded Lilly]

5. No one is "safe"...

But if enough of "The Stupid" can have their brain opened, there is still hope .

(I write it, I say it, I fight to keep it, I desperately want to have it but damn, just damn, this is all overwhelming, hideous crap going down around us)

[MineralMan]

10. That is most certainly true...

[GentryDixon]

8. I retired from the DoD after 30 years.

It boggles my mind how any federal employee can support the Republican ticket. I had a staff of 10-12, and only two besides myself were openly liberal. One disagreed with the Democratic ticket because of Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky affair. Only a very few were openly religious (abortion), but the "my parents voted this way" mentality was very strong.

Not sure how my retirement will shake out in all this. Our house is long paid for, no bills other than month to month expenses, but I am a kidney transplant patient, so depend on Medicare to pick up what Blue Cross does not.

[MineralMan]

9. Probably your retirement won't be affected, since it's

already paying. Instead, they'll change the retirement program for those still working. I can't promise that, but it's usually the way they do things.

It's odd that people think that people who work for the Federal government are liberals. Some are, but not the majority, if you look at all government employees. I think that is probably even more true at the DoD.

[TNNurse]

15. You cannot use "usually"

when discussing this madman's plans.

[smirkymonkey]

11. If there is one argument I can stand and that has no merit it is the

"My parents voted this way" argument! My parents were and are republicans too, but I can actually think for myself! It's such a lazy-ass cop out!

[GentryDixon]

16. I live in Mormon Utah. n/t

[2naSalit]

12. In some agencies

even temp workers (1039s) can continue on with the agency's plan for employees but the premiums are so high that nobody can afford it. I was offered that option at one agency but not another one, not sure how they work that.

[raccoon]

13. Good for you opening this man's eyes. nt

[Blue_true]

17. The only thing that will open their eyes is to

Suffer. They have no empathy for others otherwise.

[iluvtennis]

23. +1 nt

[kairos12]

14. He will figure out how to blame Obama.

[flying-skeleton]

18. Another Dumbass ...

[griloco]

20. Silly Liberals

The Don has a plan that covers everyone. Until he releases it you're to send all your medical bills to
Pres. Don
Trump House
Wash, DC. 00000

P.s. All the medical billers know this so you don't even need to tell them the check's in the mail.

Pps. May be a good thing to write "Heil DON" on the bill

[Scruffy1]

21. Sounds like a good plan

We should start a movement to flood the White House with bills. Besides of embarrassing the ass hats, if that was possible, it would be revenue for the USPS.

[Thor_MN]

28. *45's plan to cover everyone involves a lot of dirt.

About 6 feet by 6 feet by 2 feet per person, give or take.

[Hekate]

25. KnR