Posted on 02/01/2017 3:44:17 PM PST by markomalley
(1) working from within; (2) reaching out to allies in other parts of the government; (3) whistleblowing; and (4) last resort measures.
The Internet has become a popular tool for public employees, particularly when an employee wants to leak a “smoking gun” document that speaks for itself. Scanned versions of photos or internal memos can set the record straight in a powerful way. Advocacy groups’ web sites double as bulletin boards for public employees to post these documents. The documents are supplemented with outreach to relevant agency staff, decision makers and media outlets, with links back to the scanned documents and a brief description of their significance. As with white papers, these web links force agency leaders to address a well-documented message, while keeping the messenger safe.
I know federal employees have different work rules than we rubes in the private sector, but surely there is a code of conduct that prohibits this sort of activity.
My company actually monitors web activity of it’s employees, and somehow knows whenever it’s name is mentioned online. We can be fired for disparaging the company even away from work.
re “polices that are illegal or against their principles”.
Well, this should have applied to Hobby Lobby, Geno’s, Little Sisters of the Poor, the cake-makers, etc.
Well, it didn’t so this tactic is doomed from the start, and unemployment forms will be found at the door as the ex-govt subversives exit for the last time.
So many Satans, he is #1.
Didn’t the Patriot Act give a president secret powers and secret courts, to target individuals, imprison them indefinitely, and take them out if he desired?
We can hope for a repeat of Italy, 1945!
There are other leftist planners equally motivated as Soros, but few if any has the money he has to burn on such madness.
They can’t “resist from within” if they are identified and PUT OUT! Resistance of the Civil Service in the bureaus has negated most of Republicans’ programs for half a century.
YEah, Glenn Beck used to have a special hot seat studio and red telephone for anybody willing to blow the whistle on Obama.
Harry Truman was the first modern president to note that you can say do this and do that and everybody smiles and nods and then nothing gets done. Don’t think Trump doesn’t know that. He also knows what happened to conservatism after Reagan.
I have to think he has plans for dealing with the bureaucracy.
In an effort to clarify the Department’s clearance process for blog and social media postings referenced in AFSA’s January 31 AFSANET, we provide the following additional information:
Per the FAM, blogs and/or social media posts written in an employee’s capacity as a private citizen must be cleared by the appropriate reviewing office if the communication pertains to current U.S. foreign policy. Sometimes “the appropriate reviewing office” is Public Affairs and sometimes it is another office – the regulations we cited in the AFSANET include a helpful chart on this issue. As a follow up to our January 31 guidance, we strongly urge our members to read for themselves the following FAM regulations:
3 FAM 4173 Definitions – This section provides definitions for terms such as “Of department concern,” “Personal capacity, “Public communication, and “Publication.”
3 FAM 4174.3 Final Review Offices – This section sets forth the appropriate “final review office” for public communications, e.g., Public Affairs is the final review office for all COMs and State employees in the U.S., while the COM or his/her designee is the final review office for all employees abroad (other than COMs).
3 FAM 4176.3 Review Process for Personal Capacity Public Communications – This section sets forth the review process based on an employee’s position. The process differs slightly based on whether the employee is at/above or below the Assistant Secretary/COM level, but all employees are nonetheless still subject to the regulations.
Meanwhile, thank you to those of you who have written in with additional questions – we’re working hard to get answers from the relevant offices for you. We continue to provide this guidance as part of our efforts to empower our members to make informed decisions. As with any issue, we strongly encourage you to read the full FAM citations for the Department’s official policy.
Per the FAM, blogs and/or social media posts written in an employee’s capacity as a private citizen must be cleared by the appropriate reviewing office if the communication pertains to current U.S. foreign policy. Sometimes “the appropriate reviewing office” is Public Affairs and sometimes it is another office – the regulations we cited in the AFSANET include a helpful chart on this issue. As a follow up to our January 31 guidance, we strongly urge our members to read for themselves the following FAM regulations:
3 FAM 4173 Definitions – This section provides definitions for terms such as “Of department concern,” “Personal capacity, “Public communication, and “Publication.”
3 FAM 4174.3 Final Review Offices – This section sets forth the appropriate “final review office” for public communications, e.g., Public Affairs is the final review office for all COMs and State employees in the U.S., while the COM or his/her designee is the final review office for all employees abroad (other than COMs).
3 FAM 4176.3 Review Process for Personal Capacity Public Communications – This section sets forth the review process based on an employee’s position. The process differs slightly based on whether the employee is at/above or below the Assistant Secretary/COM level, but all employees are nonetheless still subject to the regulations.
Meanwhile, thank you to those of you who have written in with additional questions – we’re working hard to get answers from the relevant offices for you. We continue to provide this guidance as part of our efforts to empower our members to make informed decisions. As with any issue, we strongly encourage you to read the full FAM citations for the Department’s official policy.
Agreeing with the sentiment, but there's a certain satisfaction in knowing he is watching Trump & Co. begin to dismantle everything that his deranged mind has desired.
People don't realize how far and wide the Soros empire is. He has spent decades and probably hundreds of millions of dollars embedding his sheeple into American society and culture. They may technically be American citizens, but they are not patriotic Americans. They don't embrace our way of life; their loyalty is to a twisted idea they have of a "greater good." And they can't let go of the fact that we defeated them in Europe.
Reagan fired striking air traffic controllers. I’m sure there are plenty of unemployed who would gladly fill the vacated jobs.
Hatch Act: The Hatch Act continues to apply even though the election is over. Activity supporting or opposing policies, values, or current officeholders would not constitute “partisan political activity” as defined in the Hatch Act unless it supports or opposes the electoral success of a political party, partisan political group (such as a PAC), or an announced candidate for office. The Hatch Act does NOT prohibit federal employees from engaging in non-partisan political activities. (Please read the next bullet on blogs and social media, though.)
Blogs and Social Media: In addition to following the Hatch Act, employees are required to clear personal communication, including blogs and social media postings, through Public Affairs if said communication pertains to current U.S. foreign policy. 3 FAM 4173, 3 FAM 4174, and 3 FAM 4176 go into much greater detail on this requirement. The bottom line, though, is that if you wish to post something pertaining to current U.S. foreign policy (such as the January 27, 2017 Executive Order titled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States”) on your personal social media account or blog, then you must have the post cleared. The appropriate reviewing office then has two business days to get back to you with any objections regarding a social media post or five days for a blog post. If the Department has no objections or does not respond within the allotted time, you can publish the post but still must ensure that it contains no classified material and that it does not claim to represent the official position of the Department or the USG.
Dissent Channel: The State Department’s internal dissent channel, covered in 2 FAM 070, states that the State Department may not punish an employee who uses the dissent channel. It also prohibits raters and reviewers from negatively mentioning an employee’s use of the dissent channel when writing said employee’s EER. The Foreign Service promotion precepts explicitly recognize appropriate dissent as a positive factor to be considered when reviewing employees for promotion.
Walk-outs: Walking out in protest of a USG policy, even just temporarily, would be considered a strike and is prohibited by the Foreign Service Act. Such action can result in separation for cause (read: being fired).
What AFSA Can Do: As with any issue, we will defend your rights under the Foreign Service Act, the First Amendment, the FAM, and any other applicable laws and regulations. That said, AFSA assistance and representation does not always guarantee that an employee ends up with the result that s/he wants.
What You Should Keep In Mind: We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that we continue to recommend that employees purchaseprofessional liability insurance, as well as to remind you that you need to be an AFSA member in order for AFSA to assist or represent you in a discipline or legal case.
What Next? Many of the more nuanced questions surrounding these issues are not spelled out in the regs and would be up to interpretation by the Department and the courts, and it would be irresponsible for us to predict how they would play out. Our legal team continues to research and discuss the details of these issues, and we hope to provide additional guidance as it becomes clear, but for now we wanted to address the most common concerns: the dissent channel, social media, and walk-outs.
Last, But Not Least: It is important to note that friends of the Foreign Service on Capitol Hill are showing their support in action. Click here to read a letter to the President from members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
American Foreign Service Association 2101 E Street NW Washington DC 20037
They are being paid with hard earned tax payer money and it is their obligation to work hard for the new administration. .
They can do their jobs or be removed.
I hope all of u realize Hillary is still trying to have her way and behind ALL of this!
Soros must be peeing himself with rage because his precious EU is coming apart at the seams!
Freedom keeps defeating these socialist demons and with the help of God we’ll keep defeating them!!!
Soros Dr Evil. 100 billion dollars!
Sounds like we have a new batch of janitors for national parks.
Sounds like we have a new batch of janitors for national parks.
Sorts needs to stop a bullet.
Purge them & wipe them the fuck out. Many were involved in war crimes by arming Jihadist terrorists in Libya & Syria. McMuffin’s/McInsane’s friends.
PING!!
Article and comments, esp, #28, #29, #31 among others
Soros financing training in civil disobedience for government employees
Thanks, markomalley
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