The Importance of Governance

Trump and his incoming team are determined to wreck the administrative agencies that serve Americans every day. They trumpet the false idea that government employees are ineffective and wasting taxpayer money.

In fact, most people employed by the government are skilled, knowledgeable, and dedicated, working hard to protect our health and well-being. They make sure air traffic is safe and rebuild bridges. They study and protect wildlife and ecosystems. They help farmers protect topsoil and farm sustainably. They protect consumers from predatory lenders and other scams. They ensure laws are implemented and followed. They advance science for medicine and public health. They partner with universities to conduct research on everything from energy to computer science and climate change. They work with partners worldwide to ensure democracy and cooperation on shared resources such as the earth's oceans, the ozone layer, and even outer space.

The Real Motivation

While we focus on the terrible nominations Trump is putting forward for his cabinet, it is important to remember that the underlying premise of his presidency is the destruction of government effectiveness. His wealthy funders want to be free of regulations that constrain their greed and their ability to plunder our natural resources. They want to roll back protections for workers and pollute freely. Increasing profits is their sole concern.

The American people need to discover and value all the great work and services performed by dedicated public servants before their work is dismantled and the institutional knowledge is destroyed. Administrative agencies are run by people whose knowledge and relationships make it possible for crucial work to be done. Easy to destroy. Hard to rebuild.

Our elected representatives need to hear our commitment to the services that government provides from social security and the Affordable Care Act to National Parks and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. There may be wasteful military contracts and other opportunities for improvement but there is no justification for tearing down the fabric of government services on which we all depend.

It is time to make our voices heard. Call your Senators and Members of Congress today and in January 2025 when the new Congress is sworn in. Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121.