Politicizing Government

I don’t usually comment on national issues in this space. I have plenty to worry about in my own state, and my own back yard, to spend much time worrying about things I can’t control or influence.

But this President . . .

I was reading through my online newspaper subscriptions this morning, and I came across a story in The Dickinson Press by a local reporter who decided to contact the federal agencies which own land in western North Dakota to see how the shutdown might affect their offices out here on the prairie.

The reporter, Evan Butow, wrote:

“Two departments of the executive branch — the Interior and Agriculture departments — operate several offices in Dickinson and provide various services to the surrounding community.

“These include agricultural field offices of the USDA, oversight of federal mineral rights, the Little Missouri National Grassland, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park.”

So he sent e-mails to Interior and USDA. This is what a spokesperson for Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a responding e-mail:

“The Department of the Interior will keep critical services open and running for the benefit of the American people despite efforts by congressional Democrats who are trying to close our parks, stop U.S. energy production, and prevent our first responders like our law enforcement from keeping our streets safe and our wildland firefighters from fighting wildfires.”

You read that right. Despite the Democrats. The Democrats are trying to close our national parks.

Doug Burgum, you have sunk very, very low. I hope you quit telling people you’re from North Dakota. I know I won’t claim you any more.

And then this, in the e-mail to The Dickinson Press from the Agriculture Department:

“Thank you for contacting our press office. Due to staff furloughs resulting from the Radical Left Democrat shutdown, the typical monitoring of this press inbox may be impacted. We ask for your patience as remaining staff works diligently to field your requests,” the response read. “As you await a response, please remember these delays could have been avoided had Senate Democrats supported the clean continuing resolution to fund the government. Thank you for your patience and attention to this matter.”

Yeah. The Radical Left Democrats (their capital letters) shut down the government.

I am sad.

Those statements are not from politicians, or political operatives. They are from  federal employees, paid by you and me, who are making official statements, on behalf of their agencies, saying these things publicly, in response to media inquiries. Completely politicizing our government.

You can read the whole story here.

I’ve been around government and journalism a long time. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

This President . . .