Spread the swamp? Trump administration wants to move government offices out of Washington

[Anonymous]

Amid the talk of draining swamps, restoring political might to blue-collar America and turning off the spigot of taxpayer cash that showers Washington, a familiar battle cry is ricocheting through this city: Move the bureaucrats out.

It has the ring of a Trumpian fantasy. Dislodge arms of the federal government from Washington and reattach them in faraway places, spreading the wealth generated by these well-paid agency workforces and forcing senior bureaucrats to face the people they effect.

http://beta.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-spread-the-swamp-20171207-story.html

[Anonymous]

I thought everyone wanted to end government jobs?

[Anonymous]

What would you like to see, Op?
(Besides Hillary in the WH.)

[Anonymous]

OP here:

I think it’s a brilliant idea.

[Anonymous]

But I thought everyone hates government workers. They’re lazy and don’t work? I thought the new tax plan is going to create millions of jobs.

[Anonymous]

Old idea. Jason chaffetz has been banging this drum for some time now.
Only 15% of federal workers work in DC and in the DC suburbs (MD and VA).

[Anonymous]

Note that only 15% of the federal workforce is in DC. Government offices are already spread out around the country.

Given that the treasury is apparently going to be lacking in money to spend on things like CHIP because of the tax bill, it seems the height of hubris to say we should spend millions of taxpayers' dollars to move agencies at this point in time just to make a political point/photo op. So much for being fiscally conservative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Note that only 15% of the federal workforce is in DC. Government offices are already spread out around the country.

Given that the treasury is apparently going to be lacking in money to spend on things like CHIP because of the tax bill, it seems the height of hubris to say we should spend millions of taxpayers' dollars to move agencies at this point in time just to make a political point/photo op. So much for being fiscally conservative.

All of this.

[Anonymous]

They could just designate an office out west as headquarters and maintain the DC office as a regional office. No real changes would be necessary. Just change some signs and the website.

[Anonymous]

Hey Trump Administration, here’s a quick method to do this: telework. You’re welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey Trump Administration, here’s a quick method to do this: telework. You’re welcome.

Yes. Much cheaper!

[Anonymous]

In the short run it would be an easy way to decrease the federal workforce, since many current employees would choose to retire or leave rather than relocate.

In the long run, with more space to expand, and an incentive by the politicians representing the states where they are relocated to open the federal spigot and increase the local workforce, it would lead to bloated fiefdoms.

[Anonymous]

Problem is that if you move government out, DC will end up like coal country. A bunch of people who refuse to move after the gravy train has left the station. Despite the so-called “diversity of business” in DCcit all ultimately boils down to work generated from the federal government. The trade associations, non-profits, law firms, PR houses, contractors and tech companies in Reston, etc will all crash and burn since ultimately the revenue is generated from the proximity to the Fed. And given the attitude here, I can’t see a whole lot of folk jumping at the opportunity to dislodge themselves from Bethesda or McLean in favor of Dubuque or Tupelo.

[Anonymous]

Is the Pentagon moving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the Pentagon moving?

Why not? I nominate Peoria, Illinois as the new seat of military power.