[email protected]

I spent some time in DC a couple weeks ago, packing up the apartment at Riverplace South and moved my stuff into another place, to keep a “foot” in the city while continuing to work on what’s next. Yesterday marked the 4 year anniversary of my first day at the Farm Service Agency. My mind today has been with those talented and dedicated career government employees who have been victims of psychological warfare for the past month.?

In solidarity with my fellow civil servants, especially the old USDA Farm Service Agency crew, and thanks to Toby Cain I thought I'd share what I did last week. Maybe the folks at OPM/DOGE could take a lesson.

1. I learned from those around me who had more experience than I.
2. I respected their opinions, and if we had a different philosophy, we discussed like rational humans.
3. I didn't lie about their work to support my own narrative.
4. I didn't act like a god damned terrorist and make people fearful for their livelihoods for no good reason.
5. I didn't have to unfire anybody because I took ignorant, mean-spirited actions about things and people I know nothing about.

In addition, I did some 5th C work, I read the news, talked with actual producers, and spent some time in the pasture with some cows and horses.

I read that the USDA is releasing $20,000,000 in EQIP funding. If that's an effort to demonstrate how much they care, that amount makes perfect sense. $20 million amounts to a tiny fraction of one percent of all of the federal agreements that are being reneged on as you read this. Documents where all parties agreed to do things, in support of each other and society, in exchange for resources. So, $20 million....good for that small percentage producers that aren't having to put their lives on hold because they lived up to their word, but clearly quantifies compassion and knowledge.

I think there is a bigger point for us all to consider as the non-stop torrent of Executive Orders emanates from the White House. Are they really the law? Do we have to abide by them?

Folks that I worked with for the last four years at USDA, who believed in a society based on a rule of law, and dutifully carried out policy initiatives set in place by leadership that received over 80 million votes. Every policy we delivered was vetted and grounded first in statutory authority, supported by an appropriation from congress, and complied with-or through a rigorous law abiding process with much stakeholder input-changed regulation.

When those that disagreed went to court, we immediately complied with any orders of the Court, despite our (my) opinions about forum-shopping and soliciting clients. A system of checks and balances is fundamental to American government; or at least we thought so.

Back to the Executive Orders...First, let me say that I'm proud of the work we've done to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We never shied away from it, and explained it with data and evidence to anyone that cared to listen. Our policies were dutifully carried out in a lawful manner by dedicated political and career public servants. In the first week, under threat of sanction, USDA (and I suspect other) employees were asked to report anyone that worked on the DEI initiatives authorized by President Biden's Executive Orders. Others were summarily put on administrative leave.

I'll not digress too far into the irony of an Administration wanting to "get people in the office"; first offering an illegal 9 months worth of pay to not show up, and then literally sending talented staff home with nothing to do and paying them anyway. While that drips with irony and frankly is the definition of hypocrisy; if we tried to track all hypocrisy and irony, we'd not get much else done.

Folks did their job, and did it well, followed law and policy, and are now being persecuted and threatened by a group that thinks 77.3 million is somehow a "mandate" when it's not even a majority; while the lawful actions of a leader that received 81.3 million were whimsical and illegal.

To all career staff out there....

You are important. You matter. Your dedication is appreciated by an overwhelming majority of the citizens you’ve dedicated your life to serve, including me and producers all across the country.

What’s happening isn’t part of a “mandate” by a majority of American citizens, despite what’s being said every day. Less than 78 million people voted for this leadership. That’s less than 25% of the people in this country.?

I’m still reconstituting the old blogs, but what seemed more appropriate at this time was an excerpt from a post-election message I sent out to my FSA family what seems like a lifetime ago.

“As the Secretary has said several times, you are all at the very front lines of democracy, proving to folks that the federal government can be efficient, effective, and support people in their efforts to contribute to society.

The great American experiment continues. The people have voted, in a free and fair election, as they always have. Their voice has been heard. Obviously this isn’t the outcome I was hoping for. I believe wholeheartedly in what we’ve accomplished here together, and do hope to see it continued.

When I took this job, I knew very well that there’d come a day when my time here would end. I’ve had a countdown timer on my computer screen since day one, to remind myself of the urgency of the work, knowing full well that this opportunity would be gone before I knew it.

I was right about that.

For the last 1353 days, I’ve had the honor and privilege of being part of a great team of public servants

The outcome of an election doesn’t change the mission and doesn’t change the reality for any of our producers today. Any vision for change that we will see by virtue of the decision of the voters will take some time to implement.

We’ve got around 75 more days together, with still more uncertainty to face. As we’ve unfortunately grown too accustomed to, we’re operating in a continuing resolution. Unique to this year, we’re also operating under a lapsed Farm Bill.

The future is always unknown; and when exacerbated by uncertainty, it can seem pretty daunting. Regardless of how you feel about the outcome of the election, take some time to process it. You’re all still part of this great American experiment, and your friends, your families, your communities, and certainly your producers need you now as much as ever.

There’s a reason we’re all in this, and you’re reading this. We believe in something greater than ourselves and we’ve decided to devote our skills, abilities, and time to what we believe in. We want to help, and we do it every single day.?

Stay the course, keep on doing that, and keep proving your value to this great experiment; and do so with my eternal thanks and appreciation.”

77.3 million folks weren’t wrong in wanting change, wanting to see improvements in their lives; and to be very sure…that’s what they were all promised.

Honestly that’s what we all want. Who do I trust more to deliver that? Thousands of truly dedicated, selfless, public servants; like the folks who were terminated in the last couple weeks; or selfish egotistical billionaires who seem to think that the truth is whatever you said last if they care at all about truth.?

I’ll take the former. My fellow civil servants. And as for the latter, if you’re reading this; you’d do well to pay attention to them, you might just learn something.