Reminder for federal employees: You work for the people of the United States. If you are part of the executive branch (which you likely are), you ultimately report to the president of the United States. Whether you voted for him or not, he’s your boss. Even if you think he’s an idiot or a fascist or a Russian asset. You are not entitled to a job with the federal government. No matter how many years’ tenure you might have, and irrespective of whatever your collective bargaining agreement might claim, it is a privilege to work for the American taxpayers, not a right. You are immensely privileged to get to work for the federal government. Not only are you paid fairly and afforded great work-life balance, you likely participate in an extremely generous defined benefit retirement plan, something few private-sector employees now have. The federal government does not exist to provide you a job. The American taxpayers do not pay a significant portion of their income in order to provide you a sinecure. If you are not creating value for the American people, either your role within the government should not exist or you should not be the person filling that role. Or both. If you do not recognize and appreciate these facts, you should seek employment elsewhere. If your background and skillset do not lend themselves to private-sector employment, you should be especially grateful for the role you have. Never forget: You work for us. We don’t exist to serve you.