The Organization Ready To Help Trump Override The Federal Gov't
Oct 30, 2024
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Ken Bensinger, a Pulitzer Prize finalist from the New York Times, discusses the influential America First Policy Institute and its nearly 300 executive orders poised to reform civil service and more in a potential Trump second term. He underscores the Institute's controversial ties to Trump's agenda and compares it to Project 2025. Meanwhile, film critic John Powers examines the poignant film 'A Real Pain', exploring how it blends humor with the complexities of Jewish identity and historical trauma, offering a thought-provoking cinematic experience.
The America First Policy Institute is poised to greatly influence a potential Trump second term by preparing aligned staff and strategies.
Proposals for eliminating federal employee protections raise concerns about government accountability and the risks to national security.
Deep dives
Influence of America First Policy Institute
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is positioned to play a significant role in shaping a potential second Trump administration, potentially surpassing the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 in influence. Founded in late 2020, AFPI boasts a roster of former Trump administration officials who are aligned with Trump's policy agenda. This alignment is crucial for AFPI's success, as it emphasizes a targeted approach to staffing and guiding the administration's policies. Unlike the more established Heritage Foundation, AFPI operates with a lower profile, focusing on practical training for prospective Trump administration staffers in anticipation of a second term.
Training Sessions for Future Staff
In the summer, AFPI conducted training sessions aimed at preparing individuals for roles in a second Trump administration. Participants learned strategies for navigating challenges from the media and bureaucratic resistance, especially within the federal workforce. The emphasis was on significant reforms of the civil service, framing federal employees as obstacles to the Trump agenda. This instruction, often described as indoctrination, highlighted an adversarial view of federal bureaucrats as part of a larger 'swamp' that needed to be drained.
Challenging Civil Service Protections
AFPI's agenda includes a proposal to eliminate civil service protections for federal employees, transforming them into at-will hires. This could allow for dismissals without the due process safeguards currently in place, drastically changing the landscape for government employees. The policy aims to ensure that only loyalists align with the administration's views remain in federal roles, echoing sentiments from the Trump campaign about inefficiencies within the bureaucracy. This shift raises concerns about the potential impact on national security, as experts warn that losing experienced personnel could create vulnerabilities.
Transitioning Without Formal Agreements
The Trump campaign has not engaged with the formal presidential transition process as outlined in federal law, refusing to sign necessary documents that would facilitate the transition. This decision allows the campaign to operate outside established ethical guidelines, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. As a result, the campaign could theoretically raise unlimited funds without disclosing donors, potentially leading to issues of undue influence from large contributors and foreign entities. This evasion of formal protocols threatens to undermine the integrity of the transition, impacting governance in a new administration.
NewYorkTimes reporter Ken Bensinger says the America First Policy Institute, which has nearly 300 executive orders ready to be signed, would influence a Trump second term more than Project 2025.