Milwaukee Community Journal

You are here: Home / Archives for Harris

Harris

Trump’s Narrow Popular Vote Victory Fuels Questions of Mandate, Rising Emigration Interest

By Leave a Comment

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Donald Trump’s return to the presidency has ignited debates about his legitimacy and a surge of interest in emigration. While Trump won all seven swing states and secured the presidency, his share of the popular vote—49.83%—places him among the least popular modern American presidents. His 1.55% margin over Vice President Kamala Harris falls far short of historical landslides like Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 triumph, where Johnson won 61.1% of the popular vote.

And with a growing number of Trump voters expressing buyer’s remorse, many political analysts have questioned whether the election victory reflects broad public support for his policies. “If there ever was a mandate, this isn’t it,” Georgetown University political scientist Hans Noel told MSN News. Earlier projections showing Trump winning as much as 53% of the popular vote have proven inaccurate and have added further scrutiny to claims of a sweeping mandate.

Cornell University professor Peter Enns, whose model accurately predicted Trump’s swing state victories, said economic dissatisfaction during Joe Biden’s presidency played a key role in voter decisions. “If this election can be explained by what voters thought of Biden and Harris and economic conditions, it really goes against the notion of a mandate for major change from Trump,” Enns told the Guardian newspaper.

Americans Explore Emigration in Droves

In the wake of Trump’s win, many Americans have begun looking for opportunities abroad. Google reported a 1,270% spike in searches for “move to Canada” as polls closed on the East Coast. Queries about moving to New Zealand climbed nearly 2,000%, while those for Australia rose 820%. According to Google data, searches for emigration had reached historic levels.

Immigration lawyers across North America have been inundated with inquiries. “Every half hour, there’s a new email enquiry,” said Evan Green, managing partner at Green and Spiegel, Canada’s oldest immigration law firm. Green noted that clients’ concerns extend beyond Trump himself to broader societal divisions. “The majority of Americans voted for him, and some people don’t feel comfortable living in that kind of society anymore. People are afraid they are going to lose freedoms.”

High-Profile Figures Join the Exodus

Several celebrities have also signaled plans to leave the United States. Sharon Stone intends to move her family to Canada, while America Ferrera is reportedly eyeing the U.K. as a new home base. Minnie Driver has announced plans to leave Los Angeles for the U.K., citing discomfort with the country’s political direction. Whoopi Goldberg, Cardi B, and Elon Musk’s daughter Vivian Wilson are among others expressing interest in relocating.

For those seeking guidance, destinations such as Panama City, Budapest, Belize, and Phuket, Thailand, are being recommended for American expats. The locations reportedly offer affordable living and pathways to residency.

Diaspora Citizenship in Ghana

In Ghana, the African diaspora is reconnecting with its roots. On November 19, 524 diaspora members received Ghanaian citizenship during a landmark Accra International Conference Centre ceremony. The event, part of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the diaspora, builds on the success of the 2019 “Year of Return” campaign.

“Your ancestors left these shores under tragic and inhumane circumstances,” Akufo-Addo exclaimed. “Today, we reclaim that connection by welcoming you as part of our Ghanaian family.” He reminded attendees that the initiative goes beyond symbolism, providing tangible opportunities for the diaspora to shape Africa’s future.

“Being Ghanaian is about embracing values such as respect, equity, and peace,” Akufo-Addo said. “These principles are at the heart of our identity, and we invite you to embody them as you integrate into our society.”

For Black Americans, ‘Sundown’ Approaches as a Fateful Inauguration Looms

By Leave a Comment

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

With more than half of Latino men and white women voting to elect Donald Trump, the repercussions for African Americans were blatantly ignored. While there’s little doubt that white women—sacrificing their rights to choose healthcare—and Latinos—sealing the fate of many of their brethren who will be ostracized, deported, and worse, will reap some of the repercussions of Trump’s return—Black citizens face the brunt of that decision, confronting the potential resurgence of sundown towns, unchecked racist policing, and policies that threaten to let America’s ugliest prejudices flourish once more.

Trump’s proposed and devastating agenda includes dismantling the Department of Justice’s civil rights division and ending federal oversight that has long been essential for marginalized communities. Even more alarming, Trump has pledged to grant police officers complete immunity in cases involving unarmed citizens, signaling a return to a climate where police can act without accountability. For many, this agenda is not only a step backward—it is a revival of an era when Black Americans had to tread carefully in towns across America to avoid violence or worse.

Sundown Towns: A Legacy Closer Than Expected

Historically, “sundown towns” were communities where Black Americans were told to leave by sunset or face violent consequences. Though often associated with the Jim Crow South, these towns spanned the entire country, from coast to coast, leaving their mark in states not far from Washington, D.C. In Levittown, Pennsylvania, for instance, Black families were explicitly barred from purchasing homes when a town was developed in the 1950s—a policy reflective of racial exclusion in other nearby communities. Similarly, Elkton, Maryland, located less than two hours from D.C., held an unspoken “no-go” rule for Black travelers after dark, a reminder of the racial divide near the nation’s capital.

Further examples dot the region. Vienna, Virginia, although not historically labeled a sundown town, had neighborhoods with restrictive covenants excluding Black residents, and Greenwood, Delaware, similarly held an exclusionary legacy through much of the 20th century. Such towns, both near and far, stand as reminders that racial hostility is not confined to distant history or faraway places.

In Ohio, Parrysville and New Lebanon carry lingering reputations for exclusion, while Martinsville, Indiana, a required pass-through town for students heading to Indiana University, is marked by Confederate flags and reminders of a time when Black residents were warned to stay away. In Kentucky, research indicates that at least 60 towns continue to be identified as sundown towns, with Corbin and Salisbury, North Carolina, retaining incredibly hostile attitudes toward Black residents and travelers. In Vidor, Texas—another notorious sundown town—Confederate flags and racially exclusive policies create an environment where Black visitors know they are unwelcome.

Driving While Black: An Ongoing Risk

The legacy of sundown towns is alive in the experiences of Black Americans today, especially while traveling. The experience of Sheila Lettsome and her husband in 2019 serves as evidence that “driving while Black” is still a dangerous reality. Driving through a quiet Ohio town, police stopped the couple without reason. Despite having an updated registration, police officers asked where they were going and if they were “lost.” Sensing a silent threat, they quickly took the officer’s “suggested route” out of town. Only later did they learn they’d crossed into a known sundown town—a reminder that, in some places, Black travelers are still unsafe on the road.

Such incidents highlight the dangers Black Americans continue to face in areas with sundown legacies. Trump’s plan to grant police full immunity—especially in cases involving unarmed citizens—amplifies this threat. The proposed protections for police, combined with a dismantling of the DOJ’s civil rights division, effectively tell Black Americans that abuses could go unchecked and unpunished, making “driving while Black” an even greater risk.

Trump’s Campaign Rallies: A Signal to “Sundown America”

Trump’s campaign rallies themselves sent alarms across Black communities. Choosing to hold events in towns known for racial exclusion and Ku Klux Klan activity, such as Howell, Michigan, and Cullman, Alabama, many civil rights advocates argue these stops are intentional dog whistles. Cullman, a town where for decades Black visitors were warned to “not let the sun set on their heads,” hosted a Trump rally—a move some called a loud signal to his far-right base.

In Howell, which has a history of KKK activity, videos from the rally showed Black attendees facing verbal and physical harassment, reinforcing the racial tensions that sundown towns once weaponized to intimidate. At the time, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign described these venues as a “deliberate choice,” intended to rally extremist supporters and rekindle painful reminders of America’s past racial hostilities.

A Future Without Civil Rights Protections

The Trump agenda is not limited to rhetoric or rally locations; his proposal to eliminate the DOJ’s civil rights division would strip away vital protections for Black communities. The DOJ has long served as a backstop for holding law enforcement accountable and defending against housing, employment, and voting discrimination. Without it, Black Americans are left without crucial federal support, leaving them exposed to abuses and discrimination that could escalate under Trump’s immunity plan for police.

Granting complete immunity to police who shoot unarmed citizens creates an environment in which law enforcement could operate without consequences, giving Black communities fewer options to contest misconduct or violence. This vision threatens to turn back the clock to an era where sundown towns enforced racial exclusion with impunity. Trump’s campaign promises, coupled with his choice of rally venues, suggest that his second term could usher in a “sundown America”—a country where Black citizens must once again live with constant vigilance, mindful of the dangers of traveling, living, or simply existing freely.

An Ominous Roadmap for Black America

For Black Americans, Trump’s campaign rallies, rhetoric, and policies form a chilling roadmap toward a society that looks disturbingly like the days of Jim Crow. As historian James Loewen, author of Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, warned, the greatest mistake is to assume sundown towns are relics of the past. “Driving while Black” in these communities often means navigating unspoken rules, risking dangerous encounters, and carrying a constant awareness of hostile environments.

“Sometimes the dog whistle actually works, loudly spoken,” remarked Professor Joyce Alene Vance. For Black Americans, the threat of sundown towns and Trump’s proposed rollback of civil rights protections cast a dark shadow. “Without the DOJ’s oversight and with broad police immunity, Black Americans could face a landscape where, once again, some towns remain dangerous to enter, let alone call home,” Sandra Allison, a defense lawyer in Alabama, stated.

Click to see a list of sundown towns:

Biden Administration Targets Lead Pipe Replacement Nationwide, Prioritizing Black Communities Facing Water Inequities

By Leave a Comment

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

President Joe Biden took a significant step this week toward ensuring access to clean drinking water for all Americans, announcing a new EPA rule that mandates the replacement of lead service lines across the nation within ten years. Biden declared that his administration remains committed to “sprinting to the finish” in addressing environmental justice issues and securing clean water for historically marginalized communities.

Since day one, the president said his administration has prioritized the removal of lead pipes, with he and Vice President Kamala Harris committing to replace all lead pipes within a decade. The effort, part of the administration’s Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan, doubles down on their focus on protecting public health, particularly in underserved areas. “No level of lead exposure is safe,” Biden emphasized, noting the devastating impacts of lead poisoning, especially on children and expectant mothers.

The NAACP recently released a report highlighting how unsafe drinking water affects Black communities disproportionately, using problems in Jackson, MS, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other cities as examples. “Access to clean water is a fundamental human right,” the report stated, calling for immediate action from state legislators to enforce policies prioritizing clean water access in low-income and minority communities.

The report stressed that decisions on water infrastructure funding often occur at the state level, leaving marginalized communities vulnerable when funding priorities are misaligned. The NAACP urges lawmakers to “allocate funds for the modernization and maintenance of water systems” in areas that have suffered from long-term neglect.

Milwaukee and Nationwide Efforts

In Milwaukee, Biden declared that the city is progressing significantly thanks to a $30 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With the funding, Milwaukee can replace its lead pipes within ten years instead of the previously projected 60-year timeline. The city also prioritizes disadvantaged communities in its lead pipe replacement efforts, partnering with other Midwest cities like Detroit to advance regional clean water initiatives. “Milwaukee is now a leader in the region,” Biden added, noting the city’s partnership with Detroit through the Great Lakes Lead Pipes Partnership, which aims to accelerate lead pipe replacement across the Midwest.

The Biden administration’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements will mandate lead pipe replacement across the country, making this the first-ever national requirement. Since the rule was first announced, Biden has secured $15 billion specifically for lead pipe replacement, along with an additional $11.7 billion that can be allocated to drinking water projects and lead pipe removal. The funds will be directed, in part, toward disadvantaged communities bearing the brunt of lead contamination. “We are ensuring that every American can turn on their tap and drink clean water,” Biden said.

Beyond Milwaukee, cities across the United States benefit from Biden’s commitment to clean water. Detroit has accelerated its efforts, replacing over 8,000 lead pipes this year to replace all 80,000 lead pipes within a decade. With support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is on track to replace all its lead pipes by 2026. Similarly, Denver and St. Paul have received millions in federal funding, setting ambitious targets to eliminate lead pipes by 2032 and within a decade. “Lead poisoning is a major public health issue,” Biden reiterated, pointing to the irreversible harm it causes, especially in children.

Addressing Inequities in Water Access for Black Communities

The NAACP’s recent report highlights the persistent inequities in water access, particularly in Black communities, where outdated or poorly maintained infrastructure is often the norm. The report noted that industrial pollution and inadequate environmental regulations exacerbate water contamination in these areas. “Water filters and testing are typically not affordable for those who need them most,” the NAACP stated, emphasizing that low-income households face additional challenges in securing safe drinking water.

The Biden administration is also tackling toxic PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which persist in the environment and have been linked to various health issues. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the administration has allocated $10 billion to combat PFAS contamination in drinking water. The EPA has finalized a national standard to address these chemicals, a move that will protect an estimated 100 million Americans from PFAS exposure. Biden emphasized that his administration is “working to ensure that every community is protected from harmful contaminants,” underscoring the need for comprehensive solutions that encompass both lead and PFAS.

Building a Foundation for the Future

To further expand access to clean water, the Biden administration is also investing over $5 billion in Tribal water infrastructure, recognizing that half of Tribal households currently lack access to basic drinking water and sanitation. The administration has launched 900 clean water infrastructure projects for Tribal Nations to address this gap. “Every level of government—state, federal, and local—bears the responsibility to ensure access to safe drinking water,” the NAACP stated, emphasizing the need for a coordinated response to water quality issues.

In Wisconsin alone, the Investing in America agenda has brought $7.2 billion in public sector investments, including funding for high-speed internet, transportation, and clean energy initiatives. The investments include $1.7 billion to expand high-speed internet to 72,000 homes and small businesses, and $4.1 billion to rebuild roads, bridges, and transit systems, demonstrating the breadth of Biden’s commitment to infrastructure and economic revitalization.

The NAACP report also outlines key recommendations for state and federal governments, including establishing emergency response plans for water crises, enforcing water quality standards, and community engagement in water policy decisions. “The input and well-being of all communities must be factored into water policies,” the report emphasized, advocating for a more inclusive approach to public health and safety.

Securing Clean Water for All

Biden’s latest clean water initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure that every American has access to this basic necessity. “The well-being of our nation depends on safe drinking water,” Biden said. The administration’s ambitious agenda aims to modernize water systems across the country, create jobs, and foster economic stability while addressing the long-standing disparities in water access that have impacted communities of color.

“Access to clean water is a fundamental human right,” the NAACP stated, a sentiment that Biden echoed in his commitment to replace every lead pipe and safeguard this essential resource for future generations.

Kamala Harris Ignites DNC with Surprise Appearance and Biden, Dems Call for Fierce Defense of Democracy and Working-Class Values

By Leave a Comment

By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

 

In an electrifying moment at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) that likely set the tone for the party’s campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on the opening night, seizing the stage to the triumphant anthem of Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” The crowd erupted with fire in her voice as Harris declared, “I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible president, Joe Biden. Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do. We are forever grateful to you.”

The first night of the DNC was more than a celebration; it was a battle cry. Democrats from all political backgrounds came together to honor President Biden’s legacy, which includes unwavering efforts to reduce costs for middle-class Americans, repair a deteriorating infrastructure, and defend democracy from unprecedented threats. The message was clear: Biden’s work is not done, and Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz are ready to continue that fight.

Speakers who are most familiar with Biden, such as Senators Raphael Warnock and Chris Coons, as well as Dr. Jill Biden and Ashley Biden, shared stories that painted a picture of a president who is unwaveringly dedicated to the American people. “In public and in private, President Biden never backed down from his vision for an America where everyone has a fair shot,” Warnock emphasized. Dr. Biden and Ashley Biden gave heartfelt tributes to the man who led the nation and his family with steadfast devotion.

The emotional high point of the evening came when Biden, introduced by his daughter Ashley, took the stage to a thunderous ovation as “Your Love Has Lifted Me Higher” filled the arena. The crowd’s response was deafening, with chants of “We love Joe” and “Thank You, Joe” reverberating throughout the hall, a powerful testament to Biden’s connection with the American people.

In a speech that was as much a rallying cry as it was a reflection on his presidency, Biden delivered a stark reminder of what’s at stake. “Let me ask you… Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for democracy and America? Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?” Biden’s words resonated as he recalled the perilous moment of his inauguration, just weeks after supporters of the twice-impeached former president stormed the U.S. Capitol. “You cannot say I love my country only when you win,” Biden asserted. “The winter of peril and possibility has passed, and with a grateful heart, I stand before you to report that democracy has prevailed. But now, democracy must be preserved.”

Biden highlighted the progress made under his administration, pointing to economic recovery, healthcare expansion, and the battle against corporate greed. He singled out Harris’s critical role in these achievements. “We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the world… More Americans have health insurance than at any time in American history. And we finally beat big pharma. Guess who cast the tie-breaking vote? Vice President and soon-to-be President Kamala Harris. Now it’s the law of the land—$35 a month for insulin.”

The evening was charged with passionate speeches that struck at the heart of the nation’s issues. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a searing indictment of Donald Trump, contrasting Harris’s steadfast dedication to American values with Trump’s chaotic legacy. “Kamala won’t disrespect our military and our veterans,” Clinton declared to thunderous applause. “She will defend democracy and our Constitution and will protect America from enemies foreign and domestic. Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial, and when he woke up, he made history as the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions.”

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a fiery endorsement of Harris, framing her as the champion the middle-class needs. “In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for the middle class because she is from the middle class,” Ocasio-Cortez proclaimed. “She understands the urgency of rent checks, groceries, and prescriptions. She is as committed to our reproductive and civil rights as she is to taking on corporate greed. She is working tirelessly to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and bring hostages home.”

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back in her critique of Trump, accusing him of being a self-serving demagogue. “Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” she said. “I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life.”

The night was filled with moments that galvanized the crowd. Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr, invoking the words of Steph Curry, declared, “After the results are tallied that night, we can tell Donald Trump, ‘Night, night.’“ UAW President Shawn Fain tore off his jacket to reveal a shirt emblazoned with the words “TRUMP IS A SCAB,” igniting the crowd into a fervent chant of “Trump’s a scab! Trump’s a scab!”

In one of the night’s most pointed moments, Rep. Jasmine Crockett drew a stark contrast between Harris and Trump: “She became a career prosecutor while he became a career criminal. Who would you hire? Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Kamala Harris has a resume, and Donald Trump has a rap sheet with 34 felonies, 2 impeachments, and 1 porn star to prove it.”

The NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Melanie Campbell, the President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, led a standing ovation for civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson during the celebration.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also delivered a powerful message that resonated deeply with the audience. “I know that my daughter will see not only a reflection of herself in the White House, but she will experience the deepest part of American values… Kamala Harris—she’s got us.”

Harris’s words from earlier in the night echoed as the event ended: “We are at a pivotal moment. The choices we make now will determine the future of our nation. Together, we will fight for the soul of America and build a future where everyone has a fair shot. Our best days are still ahead, and we are ready to lead.”

Project FREEDOM Unveiled to Combat Controversial Project 2025

By Leave a Comment

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

A group of well-known Black Democratic leaders unveiled Project FREEDOM, a fresh strategy to combat Project 2025, a contentious 922-page plan to reform the federal government put forth by a conservative Washington think tank and other political allies.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly warned in campaign speeches that if Donald Trump wins a second term, he plans to use the conservative blueprint to exert unprecedented presidential power, eliminate the Department of Education and federal housing assistance, and significantly cut or restrict food stamps and other social welfare programs.

Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, calling some of the proposals “seriously extreme,” but its architects helped shape his Republican Party platform. Project FREEDOM, the organizers said in a virtual news conference, is designed to engage Black voters in four key battleground areas.

In the plan, the group says it aims to mobilize voters of color through town halls, community events, digital campaigns, and phone banks in Michigan, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and the Pennsylvania/Tri-State area.

Project FREEDOM aims to provide voters with a substantial policy agenda for Democrats ahead of the November election, offering a clear and precise contrast to Project 2025. Organizers say Project FREEDOM is based on four pillars: Freedom to Live, Freedom to Learn, Freedom to Vote, and Freedom to Thrive.

“When people show you who they really are, you have a responsibility to speak your Truth. Project FREEDOM is our opportunity to speak in one collective voice and say, ‘This will not stand,” said Rev. Michael McBride, co-founder of Black Church PAC and the National Black Brown Gun Violence Prevention Consortium, which work to center Black and brown gun violence prevention practitioners and scale up life-saving interventions related to urban and communal violence.

They said Freedom to Live is born from the idea that the Black community should be able to “live freely and without fear.” Organizers are calling for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Republicans in the U.S. Senate have stalled. “The way to really engage voters to go to the polls is to make sure they know we’re not just going for a celebratory vote. Instead, we’re going to the polls with our bag of demands with us,” said Tamika Mallory, co-founder of Until Freedom, an intersectional social justice organization.

Mallory emphasized the need to address income inequality, educational challenges, and police violence. She referenced the case of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-year-old Black woman and mother of two, who was fatally shot by former deputy Sean Grayson in her Illinois home. Grayson’s troubled history in law enforcement, including prior disciplinary issues, highlights systemic problems in policing that Project FREEDOM aims to address.

Meanwhile, Freedom to Thrive calls for expanding the Child Tax Credit, increasing the federal minimum wage to match inflation, and a pilot program for Universal Basic Income in low-income communities nationwide. Additionally, Freedom to Learn focuses on education, including canceling student debt and protecting Black American history in public schools. Freedom to Vote aims to strengthen voting rights, advocate for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act’s passage, and reshape the U.S. Supreme Court.

Michael Blake, founder of Project FREEDOM and CEO of KAIROS Democracy Project, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “Our democracy is under siege by a man and political machine that put themselves above all those in whom they detect ‘otherness,’” said Blake a former vice chair of the Democratic Party.

“We cannot afford to forget the pain inflicted on our people throughout Donald Trump’s administration, and we certainly cannot afford the destructiveness a second term would normalize,” Blake stated.

Project FREEDOM officials said, “Make no mistake: Communities of color are the frontline communities targeted by the poison that is Project 2025’s Christian Nationalist vision for the future, and Project FREEDOM is the antidote.”

Biden Administration Bolsters Protections for Federal Employees Against Political Interference

By Leave a Comment

Political fund raising for Congress – running for reelection – washington politics

By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

The twice-impeached, four-times indicted, and alleged predatory former President Donald Trump has pledged to “be a dictator on Day 1” if voters do the democracy-killing and unthinkable act of re-electing him.

The GOP’s presumptive nominee and groups loyal to him have previously released plans to reshape the federal government, potentially terminating thousands of employees and replacing them with conservatives and MAGA cult followers while cementing Trump as America’s first autocrat in the Oval Office.

However, President Joe Biden has moved to make that task much more difficult if Trump wins or steals the 2024 presidential election. This week, the Biden-Harris administration issued a new rule to protect federal employees through the Office of Personnel Management. The new regulations should help prevent the reclassification of career civil servants as political appointees or other at-will workers, making termination difficult.

“Today, my administration is announcing protections for 2.2 million career civil servants from political interference to guarantee they can carry out their responsibilities in the best interest of the American people,” Biden said. The National Treasury Employee Union applauded the administration’s decision, calling it a crucial step in preventing the arbitrary removal of nonpartisan professionals from federal agencies.

“This rule is about making sure the American public can continue to count on federal workers to apply their skills and expertise in carrying out their jobs, no matter their personal political beliefs,” said Rob Shriver, deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management.

Despite the proactive measures, concerns remain about future attempts to undermine these protections. If Trump, who will be the first former president to be a criminal defendant when he heads to trial in New York this month, were to secure another term in office, his administration could attempt to draft new rules through the Office of Personnel Management.

However, administration officials said the new rules mean that any such effort would likely encounter legal challenges, given the detailed explanations required for regulatory changes. The new rule “cannot be erased by a technical, HR process, which [Trump] sought to do,” Shriver stated. He added that the majority of the 2.2 million federal employees nationwide are “our friends and neighbors” who don’t have political agendas.

A crucial component of the Trump-backed and conservative Heritage Foundation’s extensive playbook, dubbed Project 2025, involves plans to scrutinize and terminate tens of thousands of federal employees whom they deem not loyal to Trump and replace them with loyalists. The GOP frontrunner, Trump, has vowed to run America as a dictatorship if he’s elected. Having already engaged in the Jan. 6 insurrection that led to the deaths of five law enforcement officers, Trump’s cultish followers have vowed more destruction if the would-be despot loses to Biden again.

With a favorable Supreme Court, and many others willing to do his bidding, Trump has thumbed his nose at twice being found responsible for sexually assaulting a woman, whom a judge ordered him to pay nearly $90 million in damages to. He’s consistently tested the limits of gag orders in his criminal cases, where he’s facing 88 felony counts that could land him an 800-plus year prison sentence, and Trump has been ordered to pay nearly $500 million after a judge determined that he committed massive business fraud.

Meanwhile, Biden called the new rules essential to safeguarding the independence and integrity of the civil service and ensuring that government agencies remain focused on serving the interests of the American people, free from partisan influence.

“Day in and day out, career civil servants provide the expertise and continuity necessary for our democracy to function,” the president asserted. “They provide Americans with lifesaving and life-changing services and put opportunity within reach for millions. Since taking office, I have worked to strengthen, empower, and rebuild our career workforce. This rule is a step toward combating corruption and partisan interference to ensure civil servants are able to focus on the most important task at hand: delivering for the American people.”