A high-ranking NASA official warned his workers Friday to “use discretion” in public when displaying badges or emblems that establish them as federal employees — a part of an effort, the company says, to guard its workers amid “tales of attainable harassment” exterior of labor.
“We’re all very proud to work for the area program,” wrote Dr. James Polk, NASA’s chief well being and medical officer. “However within the present atmosphere, with quite a lot of adverse rhetoric coming in our course, I need you all to please use warning.”
Since taking workplace in January, President Donald Trump and his administration and allies have used robust language to disparage federal employees, whom they’ve been firing en masse. “We’re bloated. We’re sloppy. We’ve lots of people that aren’t doing their job,” the president stated on Feb. 26 throughout his first Cupboard assembly.
Polk’s warning to workers got here two days later, after receiving a report about an worker who was “assaulted” at a Starbucks. “That is in all probability one of many saddest emails I’ve needed to write of late,” he stated within the e-mail, which was obtained by ProPublica.
Polk wrote that Nicola Fox, an affiliate administrator at NASA, stated at a gathering that an worker was confronted at a Starbucks by somebody “as a result of she was a federal worker.” The employee was engaged on her pc and was recognized by her badge and a emblem, he wrote.
Reached Saturday, Polk stated the e-mail was not meant for anybody exterior NASA. He stated he didn’t have extra particulars in regards to the incident and declined to touch upon it or on his e-mail to employees, which didn’t title the worker. Fox declined to remark.
What We’re Watching
Throughout Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will deal with the areas most in want of scrutiny. Listed here are among the points our reporters will likely be watching — and easy methods to get in contact with them securely.
We’re making an attempt one thing new. Was it helpful?
NASA spokesperson Cheryl Warner stated the company was “listening to tales of attainable harassment towards workers, however not assault,” the time period used within the e-mail.
“Our managers are listening to info thirdhand and utilizing this as a possibility to remind our groups to be aware of their environment and to report any incidences to the Workplace of Protecting Providers,” she stated.
The White Home didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
It was not clear the place the incident came about.
The e-mail was circulating amongst NASA workers, a few of whom stated they’re involved by the Trump administration’s rhetoric concerning authorities employees. The president, his advisers and his congressional allies have all sharpened their assaults on federal workers over the previous week because the administration undertakes expansive efforts to scale back the dimensions of the federal authorities
Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who Trump named the top of the Department of Government Efficiency, has been main the way in which.
Every week in the past, he demanded federal workers reply to an e-mail asking them to record 5 issues they’d completed within the earlier week — or be fired. “What he’s doing is saying ‘Are you really working’?” Trump stated.
On Tuesday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., stated throughout a committee assembly that “federal workers don’t deserve their jobs. Federal workers don’t deserve their paychecks.”
And senior Trump officers on Wednesday despatched out a memo on decreasing the federal workforce that stated, “The American individuals registered their verdict on the bloated, corrupt federal paperwork on November 5, 2024, by voting for President Trump and his guarantees to sweepingly reform the federal authorities.”
NASA sidestepped expected layoffs in February, however it’s nonetheless dropping personnel attributable to a buyout plan.
Polk urged his employees to remain vigilant.
“Pay attention to your environment and maintain good situational consciousness and operational safety,” he wrote. “Use warning when on the cellphone in public locations, and guarantee you might be conscious of these round you.”
Should you’re a federal employee and also you assume you had been harassed exterior work on account of your standing as a authorities worker, ProPublica needs to listen to from you. Contact our suggestions quantity on Sign at 917-512-0201. Here’s more detail on how to send us information securely.
