Congressional Staff on Front Lines

By Michael S. Johnson June 2, 2024

?Jerry Climer and I served on congressional staff for a combined 34 years.? So when we wrote the chapter on today’s staff in our new book, Fixing Congress: Restoring Power to the People, it was personal for both of us. ?It reminded us of how fortunate we were to have served in better times, years away from the dysfunction, anger and sometimes violence that now plagues public service.

?“Congressional staffers work in a risk-prone environment today, more than ever.? They work in an [ever-expanding] bulls-eye of harassment from angry constituents, frequent? harangues from press and political foes, to the harsh reality of domestic and international terrorists. Staffers work behind street barriers, magnetometers, security cameras and armed officers,” we wrote.

Testimony on the Hill buttresses our conclusions.

?“Our country is in the midst of an historical rise in threats that is flamed by the current climate of heated political rhetoric; it is both unprecedented and alarming.? Over the past year, we have seen a dangerous rise in acts of violence against Members of Congress, their families and staff.”

??????????????????????? US Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger in testimony before Congress in May

?When you hear about threats and violence committed on Capitol Hill, it is natural to think it is being perpetrated against Members of Congress only. Too often ignored are the congressional staff who face the fear of violence, ugly rantings and scary threats.

?CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane was able to turn the cameras on staff last month, putting faces to these perhaps unexpected victims

?“The menacing behavior isn’t limited to phone calls or social media trolling,” McFarlane reported. “In May 2023 Xuan-Kha Tran Pham, 50, allegedly wielded a baseball bat and attacked staffers in the Fairfax VA office of Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly. An FBI affidavit said Pham was demanding to talk to Connolly…A staffer was training a new intern in the administrative tasks and ‘suddenly the front door swung open and Pham, wielding a baseball bat, charged through it,’ the affidavit said. ‘Using the bat Pham struck (the victim) on the head, causing her to fall to the floor.’”

?MacFarlane’s piece covered the Congressional Management Foundation’s (CMF) annual report on the State of the Congress, a survey and analysis of the opinions of senior congressional staff--Democratic and Republicans--in the House and Senate.? It was released in March.

Mitchell Rivard, Chief of Staff to Michigan Rep, Dan Kildee told MacFarlane:? “The atmosphere in Congress wasn’t amazing when Congressman Kildee got here, but it certainly hasn’t gotten any better.? When it comes to safety and security, I have to think constantly and frequently much more than I ever had before.” Rivard said.

Brad Fitch, the widely respected President and CEO of CMF introduced the report this way: “Capitol Hill is a plum job for many people, but clearly the mental pressure and mental wellness issues are unfortunate.? The safety questions are relevant for people when they consider whether they want to keep their jobs in Congress.”

The report did have some positive observations on the work environment apart from safety concerns, but it did not begin nor end on a positive note:

“Congress is broken,” the report begins. “It seems like we’ve heard that refrain for decades. The public witnesses a highly partisan legislature bickering, seemingly with little concern for the welfare of the nation. And yet that simplistic narrative not only oversimplifies.the nuanced nature of the ills of our national legislature, it also leaves reformers.with little guidance on how to repair the Congress.”

?From a Democratic staffer:

“The political incentives are increasingly divorced from policy.? Tribalism and cults of personality value symbolic goods for leaders rather than material outcomes for the people.”?

From a Republican District staffer:

“The extremes at each end of the party spectrum and the mutual demonization of opposing views is unhealthy for honest debate and the understanding necessary for productive and effective legislation and leadership of the country…”

On a positive note, staff have been given more technological tools to give them greater ability to conduct their responsibility to oversee the Executive Branch. Improvements have been made to workplace environment and badly needed salary increases have been approved.

The overall CMF findings, however, were more troublesome than in past years.? They reflect something much deeper than employee disgruntlement with the workplace.? It is not about the overcrowded work spaces, longer hours and old desks. ??

The results reflect a disintegration in the legislative process.? Staffers voiced concern about the level of knowledge of members and more disheartening, the members who didn’t make their way to Washington to legislate, but who are focused mostly on “trouble-making, partisanship, bombast and how much attention they get on social media.”

“The way the House is ‘functioning’ is frustrating many members. We have to placate [certain] members and in my nearly ten years of working here I have never felt more like we're on the wrong track. We are not advancing legislation that is beneficial for the nation.”

Republican Deputy Chief of Staff, House of Representatives

The Congress was designed to be the institution closest to the people, their last line of defense against autocratic rulers, regulation and the erosion of individual rights.?? Congressional staff are often on the front lines of preserving the institution as the peoples’ House.? When staff are frustrated with the faults of the institution and feel the impulse to chuck it all and leave, another red flag flutters above the dome.?? Cynics may say good riddance but that’s easy, angry and wrong-headed.

The real challenge is:? who’s going to do the fixing?

Members of Congress should be doing it. ?They have the responsibility for reforms of the structure, the organization and the enforcement of regular order, a procedural term that means following the rules, obeying the law, and behaving like grownups.

A recent Economist poll found that 67 percent of U.S. adults “strongly disapprove” or “somewhat approve” of the way Congress is handling its job, while another 13 percent could care less either way (my words), while another 7 percent are just not sure what to think. That leaves 12 percent who strongly or somewhat approve of the job Congress is doing. ??Isn’t that what we call a public mandate?

Still, Members of Congress cannot by themselves eradicate the underlying political and social problems that inflame rhetoric, produce angry political discourse, and incite those prone to threats, intimidation and violence.

Citizens bear responsibility too and their role is more important than ever.? The rights of citizenship are a cherished blessing.? At times the corresponding responsibilities of citizenship are a heavy burden.? This is one of them.?

Politicians can set an example by their words and actions, in restoring civility, reason and mutual respect. They can put a lid on their raw emotions and and self-righteous ‘don’t-bother-me-with-the-facts, my-mind’s-made-up-indignation.? But that is not enough, nor should it be the first step (hopefully a giant leap) toward more normalcy in our political life. We too must set the example for the politicians and demand changes in behavior.

It seems a good many congressional staff have their finger on the pulse of the public. Let’s hope the next survey reflects a dramatic shift in attitude and behavior and that the November elections are not another calamitous shipwreck but a successful rescue operation. Let’s also hope that those staffers who are on the Hill for the right reasons, with the right objectives and the right values hang around, despite the toxicity of their workplace.?

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