House Speaker Mike Johnson (R) believes government employees who walk off the job to protest pro-Israel policies “deserve to be fired.”
A group of federal employees plans to walk off the job on Tuesday, January 16, in protest of the Biden administration's pro-Israel policies, according to Al-Monitor. report. The employees call themselves “Federals United for Peace,” and work in nearly 20 different government agencies, from the Office of the President to the Department of Defense to the National Park Service.
One of the protest organizers said the workers believed they had a “moral obligation and patriotic obligation” to act because the Biden administration would not respond to anti-Israel demands.
To be sure, these employees can use their First Amendment rights to protest U.S. policies. But Johnson says this decision, which exploits taxpayers who fund government salaries, cannot be without consequences.
Prime Minister Johnson said on Sunday: “Government employees who walk off the job in protest of America's support for our ally Israel are ignoring their responsibilities and abusing the trust of taxpayers. They deserve to be fired.” .
“Oversight Chairman Comer and I will work together to ensure that each federal agency initiates appropriate disciplinary proceedings against those who have abducted their duties,” he said.
Importantly, Congress prohibits protests and strikes by federal employees. In fact, it's a felony.
It declares that “an individual may not accept or hold a position in the United States Government if he or she engages in a strike or asserts the right to strike against the United States Government.” 5 United States Code § 7311.
Federal employees convicted of violating the law “shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year and one day, or both.” Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1918.
Therefore, following news of their plans, intentionally interrupting work Organizers from Solidarity United for Peace now say their protest is not actually a protest.
“This is not a strike. This is a day of remembrance. The purpose is to provide space for ourselves to grieve and heal. We serve the American people every day, and we are proud of our beliefs and ,” the group said. Said al monitor.
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