A recently leaked audio recording from a National Park Service (NPS) regional director has revealed what appears to be an orchestrated effort by the Trump administration to undermine morale among NPS staff. According to Don Striker, a veteran agency leader overseeing parks in Alaska, a new directive from Washington aimed at limiting high scores on employee evaluations is part of a larger strategy to make layoffs easier.
The directive, which was implemented without informing NPS employees, instructs supervisors to limit the number of 4s and 5s they give to employees. This shift from performance-based reviews to numerical scores could lead to a decrease in morale among staff members who may feel undervalued or overworked due to recent layoffs.
Striker's comments paint a picture of an increasingly authoritarian government that is using various tactics to suppress dissent and maintain control. He stated, "People back in D.C. are willing to shoot hostages." This remark highlights the administration's apparent willingness to use drastic measures to silence critics and maintain its grip on power.
Critics of President Trump's administration argue that this directive is part of a broader effort to undermine democratic institutions and suppress dissenting voices. The National Park Service, which has long been seen as an institution committed to preserving public lands and promoting environmental stewardship, may be particularly vulnerable to these tactics due to its history of being insulated from politics.
The implications of this directive are far-reaching, with some experts warning that it could set a precedent for other federal agencies. Tim Whitehouse, executive director of the nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, stated, "The National Park Service is enforcing this with great vigor, which is surprising and disappointing given how many staff the National Park Service has lost in the last year, and how overworked the staff currently are." This critique underscores the need for increased transparency and accountability within government agencies.
As the US continues to grapple with issues of democratic erosion and authoritarianism, it is essential to monitor developments like this one closely. The Intercept's commitment to independent journalism and fearless reporting makes it an invaluable source of information on these critical issues.
The directive, which was implemented without informing NPS employees, instructs supervisors to limit the number of 4s and 5s they give to employees. This shift from performance-based reviews to numerical scores could lead to a decrease in morale among staff members who may feel undervalued or overworked due to recent layoffs.
Striker's comments paint a picture of an increasingly authoritarian government that is using various tactics to suppress dissent and maintain control. He stated, "People back in D.C. are willing to shoot hostages." This remark highlights the administration's apparent willingness to use drastic measures to silence critics and maintain its grip on power.
Critics of President Trump's administration argue that this directive is part of a broader effort to undermine democratic institutions and suppress dissenting voices. The National Park Service, which has long been seen as an institution committed to preserving public lands and promoting environmental stewardship, may be particularly vulnerable to these tactics due to its history of being insulated from politics.
The implications of this directive are far-reaching, with some experts warning that it could set a precedent for other federal agencies. Tim Whitehouse, executive director of the nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, stated, "The National Park Service is enforcing this with great vigor, which is surprising and disappointing given how many staff the National Park Service has lost in the last year, and how overworked the staff currently are." This critique underscores the need for increased transparency and accountability within government agencies.
As the US continues to grapple with issues of democratic erosion and authoritarianism, it is essential to monitor developments like this one closely. The Intercept's commitment to independent journalism and fearless reporting makes it an invaluable source of information on these critical issues.
I don't think we should jump straight to assuming the worst, though 
. This leaked audio recording does seem pretty concerning, but what if Don Striker was just trying to warn his team about the potential consequences of this new directive? 
Maybe he's trying to help them prepare for a shift in how their jobs are evaluated. It's also possible that the NPS is under a lot of pressure from Washington, and Striker's comments were just a way of acknowledging that. 
Instead of seeing this as an example of the "authoritarian government" everyone's been talking about 
, maybe we should try to understand what's really going on here. 
They're trying to limit scores on employee evaluations? Like, come on! That's soooo not right. I mean, don't they know that people are already stressed out from all the layoffs? It's like they're taking it out on the staff who are just trying to do their jobs. I'm seriously worried about these guys... it sounds like they're being super controlled by someone in power. And what's with this whole "shooting hostages" thing? Like, that's a super serious accusation! Anyway, I'm totally following The Intercept for more on this - it's crazy stuff! 
Like, what did we expect? The Trump admin would just magically fix everything overnight? 
that doesn't sound right to me... i mean i know trump's admin is weird, but this just seems super unfair to the people who work there. 
i mean, come on who does that? it's like they think employees will just be all happy and chill if they get less recognition for their hard work 
this is exactly what's wrong with our system - the power is too concentrated in D.C. and they're using every trick in the book to silence dissenting voices 
we need more transparency & accountability, pronto! 
. It sounds like they're trying to silence staff members who might speak out against the administration's actions, which is just not okay. I mean, can't we all agree that our government should be working for us, not against us? 
.
I'm glad The Intercept is covering this story - we need more journalists like them holding our leaders accountable 
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since the leak of that audio recording! Meanwhile, the number of federal employees reporting stress and anxiety has skyrocketed by 300% over the past year 
if it means silencing critics. On a related note, have you seen these stats on whistleblower protections? Only 12% of federal employees report feeling comfortable reporting wrongdoing without fear of retaliation