Trump victory presages fundamental changes in government

Donald Trump and the Republicans’ sweeping victory promises to bring equally sweeping changes to the federal government. This issue of FELI will examine the likely impact of the new administration on each of the major workplace agencies, from personnel to policies, regulations to enforcement. Although there are many uncertainties among the numerous campaign pledges, one certainty is this: The model of government under which most of us have lived is about to undergo a profound change. As a globalist, social welfare ethos is replaced by a more inward-looking, business-first vision, it remains to be seen whether the administration’s new initiatives can fulfill the hopes of the working class voters who chose this new path—many of whom rely on threatened government programs.

Budget

Looming over everything is a new budget, still to be voted on during the “lame duck” session of Congress. The current continuing resolution (CR) ends on December 20. It seems all but certain that the existing Republican House won’t support a budget that in any way represents the wishes of the departing administration. A new CR, lasting into the new year, seems certain. That new budget will give the incoming president and his newly strengthened Congressional supporters their first opportunity to state their priorities.