Congressman August Pfluger has introduced a new piece of legislation aimed at curbing resistance activities by federal employees against the directives of elected administrations. The bill, named the Stop Resistance Activities by Federal Employees (STRAFE) Act, marks the 100th legislative proposal by Congressman Pfluger.
The STRAFE Act seeks to prevent career bureaucrats from undermining presidential agendas and ensures that federal employees follow the decisions made by elected officials. Congressman Pfluger emphasized, "Career unelected bureaucrats cannot be allowed to undermine the agenda of any future President. We must ensure that the network of federal employees that brazenly carried out resistance activities under the first Trump Administration is not unleashed again."
Key elements of the STRAFE Act include mandatory training for federal employees to outline prohibited obstruction activities, penalties equivalent to Hatch Act violations for those who resist administration policies, an independent complaint process outside traditional Inspector General channels, and periodic reporting from agencies to the Executive Office of the President on resistance activity complaints and actions taken.
The proposed legislation responds to concerns about coordinated resistance within federal agencies during former President Trump's first term. These activities reportedly involved withholding information, slowing policy implementation, insubordination, and leaking sensitive information.
The bill aims to prevent such actions in various departments including the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency.