An Open Letter to President Trump
Dear Mr. President,
It is now Day 23 of the shutdown and I don’t know how much longer we can all hold out.
Although the answer to the question “how did we get here?” is important for political and historical analysis, the million plus Americans impacted by the shutdown can’t really see past the $0.00 on their most recent paycheck. Yes, Sir. I did in fact say million plus. In addition to the 800,000 Federal employees who are living without a paycheck (whether working or furloughed), hundreds of thousands of Federal contractors who support mission-critical programs across the country have already been laid off. No one is even talking about these Americans. And that number does not even begin to reflect the hundreds of thousands more who will very likely lose their jobs in the coming two weeks as companies look to preserve profit and manage cash flow much more aggressively in order to survive.
History has already proven that there are no winners in a shutdown. The impact to Federal missions, our economy, and our business community is always severe and, in many cases, irreversible. In addition to its damaging effects on Federal employees, contractors, and local businesses, the shutdown will also reverberate across the US economy. According to an estimate by S&P Global Ratings, the “shutdown could shave approximately $1.2 billion off real GDP in the quarter for each week that part of the government is closed.” The shutdown has already cost the US economy $3.6 billion, and that number is projected to rise to over $6 billion in the next two weeks.
Time is not on our side, Sir. As each day passes, the situation becomes increasingly dire.
Duhaime’s Law Dictionary defines a National Emergency as a “situation beyond the ordinary which threatens the health or safety of citizens and which cannot be properly addressed by the use of other law.” The protracted government shutdown and the breakdown in communications at the highest levels of our government fully meets this definition. The partial government shutdown is not only forcing hundreds of thousands of Americans to suddenly file for unemployment, but it has suspended and crippled vital public safety services such as food inspections, airport screening, air traffic control, and immigration courts. Much like a hurricane, the longer it hangs around, the more damage it will inflict.
Among the many services that we often take for granted, but which are clearly at risk and essential to every American:
- Coast Guard patrols that protect our borders at sea and interdict vast quantities of illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants arriving in America by boat,
- Air Traffic controllers who work stressful jobs ensuring the integrity and efficiency of America’s airspace,
- TSA agents and Federal Air Marshalls who directly ensure the safety of citizens traveling by commercial airlines,
- Immigration court judges and legal staff that determine who has broken the law to enter the country and order the removal of illegal immigrants,
- IRS employees who process tax returns – essential to the economic stability of thousands of American businesses – and help all citizens prepare their tax returns,
- National park police and rangers who ensure the public’s health and safety on millions of acres of public lands,
- The Small Business Administration’s services to guarantee small business loans, affecting the plans of small businesses and their ability to survive during this time of crisis, and
- FDA food-safety inspectors who are not available to conduct regular safety inspects of facilities across the country.
I urge you to consider the shutdown and the loss of jobs and safety for all Americans a National Emergency. Use your powers as given to you by the Constitution and our nation’s laws, but please do not allow Americans to become human shields or collateral damage during this impasse any longer. Navigating the end to the shutdown so that a million plus hard-working Americans can go back to doing their jobs of protecting and serving millions of other hard-working Americans, makes YOU the hero.
I implore you, Sir, please be the hero this week.
With over a million Americans suddenly out of work and unable to protect and serve our communities, swift and decisive action is required. You are the President of ALL Americans and we need you to bring an end to this “situation beyond the ordinary” – today.
Respectfully,
Alba M. Alemán, CEO
Citizant
Jesus follower, Catholic
5yIf the shutdown is a national emergency, does the president assume wartime powers? Now I get it!
Jesus follower, Catholic
5yIt seems the bigger issue is the government shutdown even has such an effect on the American people in the first place. My proposal is to keep it shut down for a year or longer so we can learn to not be so dependent on the federal government.
Senior Annuity Service Coordinator at Aspida
5yWhile your goal is admirable in sending this to the President, would it not be more appropriate to send to the leaders in the House and Senate? The Legislative body is where Bills are formed, discussed and voted on. Presidents have the veto power. The House and Senate have the power to override a Veto. If Bills are not formed to gain a consensus from all, who is really failing in their duty to get things done? The President is no more obligated to sign a Bill he is in opposition to than Congress is in forming a Bill he will sign. BOTH sides have to find middle ground.
Executive project management professional. Utilizing 13+ years of PMO and 25+ years IT experience to successfully deliver strategic initiatives. Proven PMO leadership, process optimization and deliverables management.
5yWhy is this letter only addressed to the President? Last time I checked there is an opposition party that plays an equal role in finding an acceptable compromise? The fact that the "average" american hasn't felt the impact of the shut down means that we can (and should) talk about a 25% reduction in government. It also shows that maybe the wrong part of government is without a paycheck at the moment. Critical services DO include FDA inspectors, air traffic controllers, border security, active-duty military, etc. There are also common sense business aspects that are overlooked. suppressors (mufflers for your gun; actually invented by the same guy who invented the muffler for your car) can currently not be sold. That means that a significant number of small AMERICAN businesses are currently also living without a paycheck. which translates into more private sector jobs and paychecks being impacted... and those are the paychecks who pay for government. Government and Government Supporting amounts to just over half of the US economy at this time. that is a long-term unsustainable model. The american people should take back control of our government. Term limits for congress and senate so no dynasties grow in government. Reduction of government and the resulting overhead on commerce (not to mention constitutional rights). Neither side is blameless in this national debacle. Its like 2 kids fighting over the cookie jar and the american people have not acted as the parent that calls them both back to acceptable behavior. The "politics" section of your news source should not read like the National Enquirer. A parent should not take sides. It's time that the American people pay attention to their kids and country again and stop relying on "someone else" doing the "adulting" and parenting.
Senior Program Manager
5yThere is no doubt that the government shutdown has severe negative effects for federal contractors and any organization that conducts business with the federal government. I hope that this letter helps in ending the shutdown as soon as possible.