I worry a bit

The first month of the second Trump administration has certainly been momentous, hasn’t it?

Lots of sweeping financial cuts floated, lots of governmental layoffs, lots of action on immigration…  but maybe we know to slow our roll a little.

These widespread government worker layoffs and firings have all the marks of the Good Idea Fairy. Taking the easy way out, let’s start by getting rid of anyone on a probationary status. Simple, clean, and neat. Except for one little detail – many of these fired folks have years of experience and are recently promoted or transferred to other positions where their experience can help. But being on a titular probationary status – they get the axe.

I get the distinct impression that orders are being drafted in broad language, probably to give firing managers wider discretion. But when cuts at the FAA knock out air traffic controllers we need? VA cuts take out crisis-intervention and counseling employees?  Nuclear security specialists? Understaffed areas like national parks lose people, well, just because they are new?

Seems like lately I have heard many examples, as the cliche goes, of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. And justifications like references to omelets and breaking eggs. That ain’t leadership, folks, that is managerial laziness.  This is the kind of thinking that, say, would actually do what the doom forecasters predict – get rid of all fraud by getting rid of entire programs, like Social Security? on which millions rely.

Slow your roll, Elon – we’re all over your mission and applaud your intent.

But try to wield a surgical scalpel, and not a lumberjack’s axe.

Category: "Your Tax Dollars At Work", Editorial