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Government
Trump's shutdown trap?
2019-01-16
By Thomas Lifson

[AmericanThinker] Has President Trump suckered Democrats and the Deep State into a trap that will enable a radical downsizing of the federal bureaucracy? In only five more days of the already "longest government shutdown in history" (25 days and counting, as of today), a heretofore obscure threshold will be reached, enabling permanent layoffs of bureaucrats furloughed 30 days or more.
Iblis submitted this article, too, commenting My oh my. Wouldn't that be something.
Don't believe me that federal bureaucrats can be laid off? Well, in bureaucratese, a layoff is called a RIF ‐ a Reduction in Force ‐ and of course, it comes with a slew of civil service protections. But, if the guidelines are followed, bureaucrats can be laid off ‐ as in no more job. It is all explained by Michael Roberts here (updated after the beginning of the partial shutdown):
Posted by:Mullah Richard

#11  I'd rather see a RIF than a wall at this point. Both would be too much goodness.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2019-01-16 15:07  

#10  ...unfortunately, for some it is a job for life.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2019-01-16 14:43  

#9  I worked in air cargo for 24 years. I stopped counting after 23 rounds of layoffs - in 7 years. Getting laid off isn't the end of the world - it's a chance to decide what is important in your life and figure out how to get there from where you are now. Being a government employee shouldn't be a "jobs for life" program!
Posted by: Hupoluting Squank3416   2019-01-16 14:37  

#8  In deciding who stays and who goes, federal agencies must take four factors into account:

1. Tenure
2. Veteran status
3. Total federal civilian and military service
4. Performance

You're telling me that Affirmative Action has nothing to do with it? I call bullshit.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2019-01-16 13:52  

#7  I worked in the private sector where RIFs could and did happen with disturbing regularity, usually just before Christmas. Actually, it happened to me. It's tough, especially when there is a Democrat in the White House and the economy is in the tank. But you get over it. You have no choice unless you don't mind sleeping in a river valley or on a sidewalk.
Posted by: Abu Uluque   2019-01-16 13:50  

#6  Slate article referencing depts doing the layoffs is 2013.
Posted by: 3dc   2019-01-16 13:15  

#5  
Posted by: 3dc   2019-01-16 11:24  

#4  I'd be happy if he only RIF'd 10% of the federal unionized workforce - if he then rescinded Executive Order 10988. That's the EO Kennedy signed authorizing government employees to unionize. They aren't organized to protect workers from capitalist excesses - they are organized to extort premium wages and benefits from their fellow citizens.
Posted by: Flomp Unusoling7393   2019-01-16 09:43  

#3  Imagine Trump getting $5B for parts of the wall and a few hundred thousand RIF's? I'd take that any day of the week.
Posted by: Raj   2019-01-16 09:26  

#2  RIFs usually require advance notice of possible action. Start sending those out via registered mail and watch the Dems panic
Posted by: Frank G   2019-01-16 08:54  

#1  Donk voters and donors hit hardest.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2019-01-16 07:50  

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