Tears, angst as workforce braces for Trump takeover

"It's always a time of uncertainty" when a new administration comes in, the employee said, and there were fears when the George W. Bush administration came into office, too. But "people are more worried this time," the person added.

Silvia Saracco, head of a union chapter that represents EPA employees in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park, said, "There is a lot of angst out there, nervousness."

Some DOE employees are feeling glum, too.

"I think it's a sadness and a worry about just how far someone will go, especially when you never believe anything he says," said one longtime Energy Department employee. "Many of us have worked in both the Bush and the Obama administrations, and I don't think that we feel like it will be like just going back to Bush again."

The DOE employee added, "We know that now more than ever, it is important to do whatever we can to do a good job in the areas that we care about. ... What we can do is not lose sight of whatever ideals brought us to this work in the first place."

One Fish and Wildlife Service employee witnessed "business as usual" after the election, although, "obviously, there was some surprise."

Most federal employees "will work for whomever is elected," that person said. "That's just part of what I've always believed, that we should not be extremely emotional about it, certainly not in our public life."

Mass exodus?

There's been speculation that many of Trump's critics in the federal workforce might opt to leave or retire early.

"If [Trump] starts doing rotten things, then people will say, 'Enough of this crap,'" said O'Grady. "You might see retirements from people who say, 'Why bother working there anyway?'"

Saracco worked at EPA during the Reagan administration. "There was a big exodus" then, she said.

Several also noted that EPA has an aging workforce like other government agencies — about 31 percent of the federal workforce is eligible to retire. In addition, according to this year's Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, 3.57 percent of EPA employees plan to retire within the year, while another 10.76 percent plan to retire within one to three years.

"Whenever there is a change of administration, career officials that are retirement eligible take stock and decide what to do next, even if you agree with the party coming in," said Joe Edgell, senior vice president of National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 280, which also represents EPA employees.

"Do I think a lot of people are going to retire? Well, yeah," Edgell said. "Could it be higher than normal? We have to see what happens."

Government workers have expressed worry about a Trump victory in the past. A poll by the Government Business Council released earlier this year found that 14 percent of responding federal employees said they would consider leaving government service if the GOP nominee won, while another 11 percent answered "maybe" (Greenwire, Feb. 1).

By and large, agency employees say they and their colleagues are planning to stick around — at least for a while.

"They're going to try to work from within as much as possible and do their job," Saracco said. "That's what we're supposed to do as civil servants, ... not have people who politically are going back and forth."

She's been trying to console worried workers by reminding them that they've lived through changing administrations before.

"We all have to keep in mind that we are federal employees, we swear allegiance to the Constitution, and we are executive branch employees. Whoever wins the election is who gives us the direction that we're to go in. That's our job," Saracco said.

She also cautioned that it isn't clear yet what exactly a Trump administration will do in office.

"There's a lot of rhetoric that takes place on the campaign trail. We all have to remember that," she said. "Let's not assume we know. We need to see what's going to happen."

EPA managers have stressed to staff to stay professional and work with Trump's transition team. In an agencywide email after the election, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy emphasized that there should be a smooth transition (Greenwire, Nov. 9).

After Trump's inauguration in January, "I will be coming to work and continue to be paid for the work that I do," said the career EPA employee. "Whether I like it, whether they like it, that remains to be seen."

Another EPA career employee said the agency has been able to function under prior Republican administrations.

"We have been through Reagan, got through [George W. Bush]. We will get through this."

Wait for dirty air all over the US. Trump won't care, he will live in his Golden house with AC made by China.

I just want him to abolish the ATF.

>>85398
And the DEA

>>85395
It's not a house it's a tower

>Climate change denier from a fossil fuel lobby
>in charge of protecting the environment
This is evil. This is the shit a cartoon super villain would do. I'm legitimately triggered.

>>85417
> I'm legitimately triggered.
America is going to be great again anon get over it.

>republicans get in charge
>cut back all finantial regulations
>cut back all environmental regulations
>slash education and wellfare spending
>give the largest tax cuts in history to the upper class
>jobs still don't come back
>democrats learn nothing and elect a muslim to be their chair and embrace the extreme far left
>trump gets elected to another term
This is the worst timeline.

>>85424
Pence after that.

>>85417
This is the real world. Evil is a social construct and Captain Planet doesn't exist

>>85419

I no longer hope to win the lottery, or live to be a ripe old age. I no longer wish to meet the perfect woman, or see my dreams come true. Instead, If I can, I would rather sacrifice all of that chance in return for the chance to see people like you slowly die, unloved, painfully. It will be worth it even if I were to end up on the street as a homeless person, every last one of you deserve to die.

>>85425

this. unless there is some huge scandal like trump fucks his daughter.

>>85431

Jefferson was right, there has to be a social upheaval. they all have to be killed.

>>85445
That was very rude of you anon! Also you need my name for curse of that power to work and I'm not giving it to you magician!

>>85417
If you're the kind of person who gets "triggered", I think the US has said, "Enough of your bullshit, children," just recently, so fuck off.

>3 world countries pump out ten times the pollution as the first world

>>we need to reduce our emissions by 5% guys, we'll save the world!

>>85445
Have fun with your masturbatory fantasy. We'll take over your real world from here.

>>85446
Great to see your respect for women!

>>85445
Yep. That's how you make your opinions look sophisticated. Act like an edgy teenager.

Oh wait, no, it was those very same antics that lost you the election! Good to see you learned absolutely nothing at all. After all, if I'm to have an enemy, I'd like them to be a dumb one who doesn't learn lessons.

>>85425
Kek and once Pence ascends to god emperor status he will use his power to make homosexuality a psychiatric disease again and make compulsive electroshock therapy the only treatment.

As a DOI employee I'm worried about someone like Palin being put in charge of the Interior. Give me an oil tycoon, at least they're somewhat intelligent and not incompetent.