Public Enemies: Government Bureaucrats as Societal Parasites

2025-02-17

Three weeks ago, the Trump administration sent out an order to the executive branch calling for federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance” that could conflict with President Donald Trump’s agenda. The order primarily targeted federal dollars doled out to so-called non-governmental organizations, often called “NGOs.” The effect on many NGOs was immediate. Many started complaining that they would not be able to meet payroll or survive without a constant inflow of government largesse. Thus, in recent weeks, one hears repeatedly of layoffs of taxpayer-funded employees as thousands of ostensibly non-governmental organizations find themselves cut off from their main source of income: the taxpayer gravy train.In