To the 2 million federal employees Trump wants to command to bow down or disappear.

He doesn’t have the authority to fire you

He doesn’t have the authority to buy you out 

and he doesn’t have the authority to command your loyalty.

He doesn’t understand the separation of powers

He doesn’t understand his own job

He doesn’t understand you, what you do, or who you work for 

He doesn’t understand what motivates you to show up for work 

He doesn’t understand the selflessness required to be a civil servant 

And he doesn’t understand serving a cause greater than himself.

He doesn’t understand the dams you operate,

the power grids you inspect 

or the food you help keep safe

He doesn’t understand the beauty national parks protect

He doesn’t understand the communities or the people you serve.

He doesn’t understand what you do for this country

and he doesn’t understand why you do it.

Because at his most fundamental level

He is a broken, failed man, full of jealousy and resentment

He pities himself for his inability to understand sacrifice

his inability to understand why a person would work without ego, without lavish privilege, without recognition, and without praise. 

So he’s lashing out like a cornered dog tethered by the chains of checks and balances.

Don’t let him fool you. He doesn’t understand his own limitations.

And he won’t understand it 

When you tell him he doesn’t deserve your resignation

And he doesn’t deserve your loyalty

But that you’ll work through him

And you’ll work past him

All the same.