The national media – especially those assigned to report crying, drama, firings, and gnashing teeth – have taken the Democrat shutdown, flipped it on its head, and blame Trump for “RIFs” – that is, “Reductions In Force,” layoffs. They report the world is ending. A little perspective is needed.
In the media’s typical breathless way, pushing hype, hysteria, and hyperventilation, Apple News reports (consistent with the Democrat narrative) that: “The White House’s mass firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff … has decimated offices related to injury prevention, respiratory disease surveillance, and chronic disease …” The world is coming to an end.
Taken on its face, this sounds terrible. It sounds like CDC barely exists any more, and we should now expect a spike in injuries, respiratory and chronic diseases.
But deeper into the story: “The White House is expected to cut between 1,100 and 1,200 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), though it’s not yet clear how many will come from the CDC.” So, um, they lied.
Moreover, while the White House says some jobs may not return – if found unnecessary – and others may return without backpay, the picture still sounds dim.
Is the world ending? Hardly. A little perspective. Pull the lens back – to understand what Trump’s Office of Management and Budget is doing. Into that opening provided by Senate Democrats, they are inserting an “are they needed” test.
So, is this really a “mass firing” – “1100 to 1200” layoffs, termination possible if found unnecessary, “at CDC” (which is really HHS) – with job reviews overdue?
You tell me. HHS has 82,000 fulltime employees, plus 60,000 contract employees, totaling 142,000 employees. Of that, 19,000 are at CDC.
So, let’s get real. Even if all the RIFs were firings, which they are not, and even if the total were 1200 – that is less than one percent of HHS employees (.845 percent). Even if all came from CDC (unlikely), that is 6.3 percent of CDC’s force.
Reality is far more simple. Democrats are ouching from a huge mistake. They wanted attention. Trump was getting it for peace talks, ending crime in big cities, so they pushed Obamacare and money for National Public Radio (NPR), hallmark of Democrat ideas, more socialized medicine, more public funding for leftist news.
No one cares, or cares much right now. Most oppose these Democrat ideas. So how do Democrats end the mess they created? Just calm down, end the hype, and get back to work. One thing for sure, the world is not coming to an end, never was. Democrat leadership is lost, with tagalong media. They need some perspective.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor. BobbyforMaine.com
The last sentence Robert -” They need some perspective” – sure enough , that’s a fact . Great that you set the Truth right with all of this exaggeration concerning the CDC situation. Let the spirit of Faith, Family and Freedom be the guide for all who see the importance of doing what is needed to keep this Nation on the right course.
Superb writing. The ‘reduction in force’ initiative to downsize a bloated government has its golden opportunity. The democrat party was unintentionally productive after all (via closing down government with their insistence to continue foolish spending).
RBC, great article of the TRUTH with MSM. Had to make some buttered popcorn and read your article again. Maybe make a movie with Harris representing the Demos.
since the shutdown I think all members of congress should not be paid and no retroactive pay. my thoughts,
During the “covid pandemic” our betters had no problem forcing as many inconveniences and petty rules as possible on citizens, now that they are experiencing a bit of inconvenience of their own doing they are having a tantrum. What do they really do , except damage , as for perspective they would have to have a functioning brain between them.
“Chicken Little”, was, most assuredly, a Dumba$$ocrat. A Dumba$$ocrat member of the MSM. “All these people, being FIRED! What will we do? What WILL we do?!” Here’s a thought. Get all the deadwood Dumba$$ocrat$ in Congre$$ to go back to work. Just a thought…
oops… the World WILL one day come to an end – when God Decides and Jesus returns! I pray, “COME JESUS COME!”
Very simple ‘bottom lines’ – Democrats ARE America’s ENEMIES WITHIN.
RIF is winning
RIF is “winning”
The members of Congress should NOT GET ONE CENT IN PAY UNTIL THEY GET THIS STRAIGHTENED OUT AND BACK UP AND RUNNING. In fact two things. ONE,They should be fined $500.00 per day without a resolution, retroactive from day one, and two, they should have to stay in DC until it is Resolved. No going home or on vacation while their work is NOT Complete. That mlght get their attention. But of course, they have voted for Themselves to not be Penalized. We didn’t get a chance to vote on that. Cant imagine why.
Under Brandon, the size of the Fed govt increased by 40%. Most were in depts of interests to the left’s agenda. I worked in HR years ago, and all personnel requestions had a line that specified if the position was filling a vacant existing position or a new position. He could issue a directive that all Fed jobs filled in the previous 4 years that were not filling previously existing positions were void hirings.