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Edited by: Fern Sidman
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has ignited a controversy by stating that federal employees who participate in a planned walkout to protest President Biden’s handling of Israel’s conflict with Hamas “deserve” to be fired, as was reported in the New York Post. The comments come in response to reports that workers in at least 22 federal agencies are planning to join a work stoppage on Tuesday, protesting U.S. support for Israel in its military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
Joe Biden’s own employees are turning their backs on him. @carolinedowney_ @IamJohnBurnett reacts to federal worker’s plan to walk out on the job over Biden’s pro-Israel stance. | @dagenmcdowell @SeanDuffyWI pic.twitter.com/ji2623p2JW
— The Bottom Line (@BottomLineFBN) January 16, 2024
In a statement made on X, Johnson expressed strong disapproval of federal workers participating in the planned walkout. According to the information provided in the Post report, he asserted that any government employee who walks off the job to protest U.S. support for Israel is neglecting their responsibility and abusing the trust of taxpayers, and as a consequence, they deserve to be terminated from their positions. Johnson pledged to collaborate with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a fellow Republican, to ensure that appropriate disciplinary proceedings are initiated against any federal employee participating in the walkout.
The planned walkout is organized by a group of federal workers known as Feds United for Peace. According to reports, the protest is labeled a “Day of Mourning” and is set to mark the 100th day of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. According to the report in the Post, the organizers believe that “hundreds” of workers from 22 federal agencies, including the Executive Office of the President, Departments of Defense, State, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs, as well as agencies such as the National Security Agency, will join the Tuesday protest.
According to a report in Al-Monitor and referenced in the Post article, in addition to the above referenced agencies, members of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Naval Research Laboratory, the National Park Service, the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency are also expected to protest during the work day.
“What you’re seeing with this effort is something very unusual, and that is for the dissent to be manifested via a physical act,” one organizer told AL-Monitor, according to the Post report.
The protest is fueled by discontent over President Biden’s support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas. The military action was initiated by Israel after Hamas terrorists carried out a sneak attack on October 7, resulting in the slaughter of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 200 Israelis, as was indicated in the Post report. The Gaza health ministry, backed by Hamas, claims nearly 24,000 Palestinian casualties over the last three months. Israel’s military reports about 9,000 Palestinian fighters killed and 189 Israel Defense Forces soldiers lost in the conflict.
President Biden, a Democrat, has faced increasing pressure over his support for Israel, both from within and outside the federal government. As per the Post report, Biden recently stated at a campaign event that he is “quietly” pushing Israel to significantly withdraw from Gaza, a move that follows Israeli officials’ decision to reduce troop levels in the region. Anti-Israel demonstrators targeted the White House, shouting expletives against Biden, and leading to the evacuation of non-essential staff from the area as a precaution.
The planned walkout by federal workers is considered unusual, with dissent being manifested through a physical act. Organizers have highlighted the rarity of such protests, indicating a heightened level of dissatisfaction within federal agencies regarding the U.S. stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The unfolding events will likely fuel further discussions on the intersection of politics, activism, and the responsibilities of federal workers in expressing their views.
