Federal employees who criticized Trump throughout shutdown placed on go away : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2001+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F43%2F53%2F59c57440452fbd2b816793e92fc3%2F20251006-jennanorton-044.JPG" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3000x2001+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F43%2F53%2F59c57440452fbd2b816793e92fc3%2F20251006-jennanorton-044.JPG" class="img" alt="Jenna Norton, a program director with the National Institutes of Health, says she has been put on leave following the end of the government shutdown. She spoke critically of the Trump administration both before and during the shutdown." fetchpriority="high"/> Jenna Norton, a program director with the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, says she has been placed on go away following the tip of the federal government shutdown. She spoke critically of the Trump administration each earlier than and through the shutdown. Maansi Srivastava/NPR conceal caption

toggle caption

Maansi Srivastava/NPR Jenna Norton, a program director on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, says she has been placed on paid go away following the tip of the federal government shutdown.

"I used to be not given a motive for being placed on go away, however I strongly suspect it's as a result of I've been talking up in my private capability in regards to the harms that I've been witnessing contained in the Nationwide Institutes of Well being," she mentioned in a video posted to TikTok.

The discover Norton acquired from human sources said that the go away "isn't being accomplished for any disciplinary function."

She is amongst numerous federal staff who've been brazenly important of the Trump administration, each earlier than and through the 43-day shutdown.

Norton first spoke out in June, when she helped arrange a name to motion by a whole lot of NIH scientists, pushing again in opposition to cuts and adjustments on the company. They warned the Trump administration was politicizing analysis and canceling research, placing the well being of members in danger.

In an interview with NPR in early October, Norton mentioned she believed the Trump administration's deep funding and staffing cuts have created a scenario inside NIH that's far worse than the general public realizes.

"I really feel like I've this entrance row seat to the destruction of our democracy," she mentioned. "We're seeing it in actual time with a president who's asking us to do issues which can be unlawful and dangerous to the American public."

The Division of Well being and Human Providers, which oversees NIH, didn't reply to NPR's questions on why Norton was positioned on go away and as an alternative issued an announcement calling her a "radical leftist" who "chooses to consistently criticize this administration, even when she is meant to be working."

Norton responded on TikTok, saying "Whether it is radically leftist to imagine that NIH insurance policies shouldn't be actively harming analysis members, then I'll put on the unconventional left label proudly."

Agriculture Division worker additionally on go away On Thursday, the Federal Unionists Community, a coalition of former and present federal employees and union members, introduced that an Agriculture Division worker who labored on the Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) had additionally been placed on go away.

Ellen Mei, who additionally serves as president of Nationwide Treasury Staff Union (NTEU) Chapter 255, acquired a discover of proposed termination on Oct. 3, a day after she raised considerations about meals help applications in an interview on MSNBC, in line with the Federal Unionists Community.

"I did not leak secrets and techniques or share something confidential," mentioned Mei in an announcement launched by the group. "I informed the reality about what's taking place to hungry households and the individuals who serve them. I took an oath to serve the general public — to not keep quiet whereas our authorities turns its again on the American individuals."

In an announcement, a spokesperson for USDA informed NPR that the division doesn't touch upon particular person personnel issues, including: "Throughout a lapse in appropriations, furloughed USDA staff are usually not approved to carry out any official duties, together with talking on behalf of the Division."

MSNBC prefaced Mei's interview by stating that she was not representing the federal government, however talking in her personal capability.

A proper to talk on issues of public concern Norton says she believes federal employees not solely have a proper however an obligation to talk publicly on issues of the general public curiosity.

She factors to a 1968 Supreme Courtroom choice that discovered public staff can communicate on issues of public concern so long as the speech would not disrupt authorities operations. She is aware of federal staff even have whistleblower rights.

"Permitting civil servants to place up a purple flag after we're seeing an issue is important to sustaining our democracy," she informed NPR in October. "These civil service protections aren't actually about defending me as a federal employee. They're about defending our nation."

Nonetheless, on Friday, Norton informed NPR she knew she was placing her job in danger by talking out.

"I used to be by no means beneath the impression that my rights could be revered," she mentioned. "I additionally acknowledged… that in the event you do not assert your rights since you're afraid or since you're demoralized or for no matter motive, then you definately've already given them up. You have allow them to be taken away. And I used to be decided not to try this."

NPR's Rob Stein contributed to this story.

[ad_2] Source link

Federal employees who criticized Trump throughout shutdown placed on go away : NPR

Trump provides Greene new nickname hours after withdrawing endorsement

Decide bars Trump from fining College of California over discrimination : NPR

The US continues to be a magnet for prime overseas college students — for now

greater

Related Posts

Trump provides Greene new nickname hours after withdrawing endorsement

Decide bars Trump from fining College of California over discrimination : NPR

The US continues to be a magnet for prime overseas college students — for now

LSU Makes Closing Resolution on QB Garrett Nussmeier Earlier than Arkansas Sport

Las Vegas lawmakers take into account reviving disbanded courtroom to spice up tourism

Vatican returns 62 artifacts to Indigenous peoples from Canada : NPR

Trump administration overhauls homelessness coverage : NPR

Trump administration overhauls homelessness coverage : NPR

Recommended Stories

WATCH: JD Vance reveals what he's discovered from President Trump

3 Finest Suits? The place Prime MLB Free Brokers, Together with Japan’s Subsequent Star, May Land

Trump Fox Information SH*TSHOW GETS WORSE in NEW FOOTAGE

Popular Stories

VanEck Analysis Chief Questions Its Utility

Cristiano Ronaldo Faces 3-Week FIFA Verdict Wait on World Cup Ban for Crimson Card

A number of killed after bus crashes into bus cease in Stockholm

The Greatest Years of Your Life Are Most likely Nonetheless Forward

These movies of Ukrainian troopers are deepfakes generated from the faces of Russian streamers

Categories

Site Map

Recent Posts

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Federal employees who criticized Trump throughout shutdown placed on go away : NPR

RELATED POSTS

Support Greater and Subscribe to view content

Subscribe

Related Posts

Recommended Stories

Popular Stories

Categories

Site Map

Recent Posts

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?