Share this page!

Enter URL or ID to Unroll

You can paste full URL like: https://x.com/threadreaderapp/status/1644127596119195649
or just the ID like: 1644127596119195649

How to get URL link on X (Twitter) App

  1. On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
  2. Click again on or Share Via icon
  3. Click on Copy Link to Tweet
  4. Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
  5. More info at Twitter Help
Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture
@RepDonBeyer
Nov 27, 2020 • 13 tweets • 6 min read • Read on X
Scrolly
This is an extremely important story that isn't getting the attention it deserves.

After GSA initiated the presidential transition, I warned that there would still be new Trump sabotage to come. This is exactly what I was concerned about.

Here's what's happening-- 1/
Presidents appoint leaders of federal agencies, for instance Cabinet secretaries and their staffs, but most civil servants are career federal employees, a professional staff that provide continuity no matter which party is in power. Congress passed laws to create this system. 2/
It wasn't always this way. There was a time when an incoming president handed out government jobs to loyalists and supporters after taking office, and the civil service constantly turned over with administrations. That was terrible for the country. 3/
Congress passed the Pendleton Act in 1883 to end this practice (the "spoils system"), and over time created a permanent, professional civil service that works for the American people, not the benefit of one person.

Trump is trying to undo that now. 4/
To bypass laws enacted by Congress that protect career civil servants from being fired for political reasons, Trump issued an Executive Order just before the election creating a new classification of federal employees, "Schedule F," who can be terminated without cause. 5/ Image
The White House ordered every agency to reclassify some of its workforce as Schedule F by January 19, 2021, the day before the Inauguration.

At the time, Trump believed he would get a second term, and planned to fire protected employees like Dr. Fauci for imagined disloyalty. 6/
But once it became clear Trump lost the election, a new goal came into view: sabotaging President-elect Biden.

Sometime in the last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) produced a memo which reclassified **88%** of its workers as Schedule F.
Trump now believes he can fire nearly everyone at OMB at will. More agencies are likely to follow OMB in reclassifying portions of their workforces as Schedule F soon. Trump likely hopes to replace swathes of the career federal workforce with loyalists. 8/ reuters.com/article/usa-el…
Obviously we are not taking this sitting down. Democrats in both House and Senate have filed legislation to nullify Trump's Schedule F order. 9/
The @OversightDems Committee is pursuing an investigation to track other reclassifications of workers, so that we can see where this is happening. Lawsuits have been filed, and a big fight over this is coming. 10/
federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2020…
I'm working with colleagues to block funding for reclassification of federal workers under Trump's order.

Trump hopes to leave his successor with a sabotaged government amid a pandemic and economic crisis. It's contemptible and we have to stop him. 11/11
One more thing. Some of you may remember that a top public official Trump appointed to oversee the federal workforce resigned last month because he could not in good conscience cooperate with a new order from the President. He resigned over this. 12/11 washingtonpost.com/politics/trump…
More: the Energy Department and Office of Personnel Management have both reportedly taken steps to reclassify portions of their workforces as Schedule F.
washingtonpost.com/politics/trump…
eenews.net/stories/106371…
talkingpointsmemo.com/news/this-exce…
@mattshuham got the form the Administration is using: ImageImageImage

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Rep. Don Beyer

Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @RepDonBeyer

Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture
Mar 3
Today I have heard from constituents who are in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, the U.A.E., and Qatar or have family there and are frantically trying to get to safety.

The State Department told Americans in the Middle East to evacuate, but flights across the region are cancelled, airspaces are closed, and airports and consulates are shuttered or under attack.

The Trump Administration's incompetence is stranding Americans abroad. 1/
President Trump chose when to begin this war, his Administration had weeks to prepare. Now they are telling people to leave.

But thousands of Americans stranded abroad who contact the State Department are being told their embassies cannot help them. 2/
The limited guidance we have received is that American citizens should monitor official travel advisories and security updates.

To receive the latest security alerts, American citizens abroad are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at mytravel.state.gov/s/step and join the State Department WhatsApp channel for updates at whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va….

Americans in the Middle East who need to reach Consular Affairs can call 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada).

Constituents needing help communicating with State should call my office at 703-658-5403 for support. You can also fill out our digital privacy release form here, and someone on my staff will be in touch: beyer.house.gov/constituent-se… 3/Image
Read 8 tweets
Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture
Feb 28
The American people rightly do not want a war with Iran.

President Trump’s war is not smart, it is not legal, it is not morally right, and it is not in our national interest.

The risk to our servicemembers, citizens, and allies which it creates is not justified by Iran’s threat to our own security, and the threat of a wider conflict that destabilizes the region is significant.

Recent history has shown repeatedly that wars in the Middle East are far easier to begin than they are to finish. 1/4
The President has not made the case for a conflict he himself calls "war" to the country or to Congress, nor has he gotten congressional approval for such a step, which means this war is plainly illegal and unconstitutional.

The only justifications given for war have been Trump’s failure to conclude a deal like the one he inherited and foolishly tore up, along with the goal of destroying a nuclear program he declared "obliterated" a few months ago.

This does not inspire confidence in the incoherent strategy of an increasingly erratic president. 2/4
The Iranian regime has been brutal and repressive, and the human rights and self-determination of the Iranian people deserve our care and consideration.

But there is no evidence that President Trump cares about the people of Iran any more than he does about the people of Venezuela, or about the people of other countries repressed by the autocrats and dictators Trump counts as friends.

On the other hand, many civilians reportedly have already been killed, and many more are likely to be. 3/4
Read 5 tweets
Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture
Feb 4
I love the Washington Post. I've been a subscriber for many years.

The Post’s coverage has enriched my life and is indispensable to my work as a policymaker.

I think I speak for many when I say it is heartbreaking to watch Jeff Bezos run the Washington Post into the ground.
Over the last year an authoritarian president and his administration unleashed a geyser of political news that also shaped coverage of the economy, global affairs, health, tech, environment, local news, and more. The Post's competitors have been successful in this environment.
At the same time, media companies and other key American institutions responded to Trump’s bullying and intimidation with appeasement. Media outlets tried to protect business interests and wealth of their billionaire owners by weakening or censoring journalism critical of Trump.
Read 8 tweets
Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture
Jan 26
The Department of Homeland Security is murdering American citizens. Congress cannot allow that to continue, we must act.

We need a full, independent investigation into these killings. 1/
ICE, CBP and other DHS personnel must leave Minnesota and other cities where they have been sent to sow division and fear. 2/
No more occupation. No more assaults on Americans peacefully exercising their rights. No more masked agents. No more warrantless entries. No more mass arrests to fill deportation quotas. 3/
Read 4 tweets
Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture
Nov 10, 2025
I will be voting no on the proposed continuing resolution in the U.S. House.

Republican leaders have turned their backs on Americans facing rising health care costs and refuse to address the affordability crisis their own policies created.

My statement: Image
The Senate’s proposed continuing resolution, which would extend current levels of government funding through January 30 while failing to address the expiration of critical health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that help millions of Americans afford health insurance.

1/
I have said from the beginning that my goal is to end the shutdown in a way that protects Americans from skyrocketing health care costs, and this bill fails that test.

2/
Read 7 tweets
Rep. Don Beyer Profile picture
Mar 28, 2025
We've heard concerning things about the Social Security Administration lately, so I decided to check for myself.

SSA says Wednesday is the best day to call, so I called then.

Their system told me there would be a two-hour wait time, told me to call back, and then just hung up.
(The beeping noise in the background is the legislative bells system letting us know about upcoming votes)

Washington Post: "Long Waits, Waves Of Calls, Website Crashes: Social Security Is Breaking Down"

It's only getting worse.
washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/…
These systemic problems are forcing people to make claims online or in person rather than by phone: washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/…

But their website is crashing and they're firing the staff
x.com/jstein_wapo/st…
Read 8 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

Send Email!

:(