Letter from a GOP Staffer

A Modest Proposal

I received this email from a GOP staffer on a Committee in Congress. I think it’s very helpful!

“Dear Andrew:

I have some strong advice for the Trump transition. I was super happy Trump won on Tuesday! I didn’t vote for him in 2016 or 2020, and because of the secret ballot I won’t say who I voted for this time, but I’m definitely on Team Trump. Not asking for a job and I know we haven’t spoken for a while, but I’d be great working at [REDACTED] as [REDACTED] or at [REDACTED] as [REDACTED] or at [REDACTED] as [REDACTED].

I’m super happy to see that the transition appears to be working well. I just want to give a few pieces of advice, because I worked on the Romney campaign and served in the GWB administration (experience that would make me invaluable in Trump Term Two btw), and I know how this town works.

(1) We need to get rid of the filibuster. We’re not going to pass any signature bills with what we have in the Senate. We need every R to vote in lockstep and if we want more tax cuts we need to do away with the filibuster. I hope we focus again on confirming judges, because that was a signature accomplishment of Trump Term One. So many of my friends have clerked or been appointed to the bench because of that, and we need real, button down conservative, CONSTITUTIONALIST judges.

(2) We cannot have a recess. That’s a real breach of norms. Recess appointments might appear in the Constitution, and if there’s disagreement on recessing it might be that under Article II, Sec. 3 the President can adjourn Congress if there’s a disagreement, but this is a bad look.

(3) We need a good omnibus appropriations bill. Trump’s first and most important task as President is to cut the Department of Education in the omnibus bill. He should spend a lot of time and energy on that—nothing is more important for the CONSTITUTION.

(4) We need to help Israel and Ukraine. I’m very worried that Trump will buck the experts and try to get quick resolutions to those two, complicated issues. These are bread-and-butter issues to most Americans that can’t be dealt with too firmly.

(5) We need a real slick Attorney General. A judge or a Supreme Court clerk who understands the law is super important. We can’t go on a revenge tour against Jack Smith or Philadelphia or anyone else, because that’s a waste of time and energy. They won’t do it again, so we don’t need to worry.

(6) We need to ice out Project 2025. The Project 2025 policy book is GREAT, and Heritage is GREAT, especially on foreign policy and tax cuts and free trade, but I’m very happy that there’s infighting going on. I don’t care how “loyal” you are to Trump and the movement, Project 2025 staff should be boxed out.

(7) Trump should delegate the transition. He’s going to be too busy with other things to care, personally, about personnel. Let the teams handle that. Don’t get bogged down.

(8) Hurry up. I’m very concerned we are wasting time. It’s already been 24 hours and I haven’t gotten a phone call. Move to DC from Palm Beach and get off your ass! Shoot first, plan later.

(9) Look forward. Again, no revenge tour. No targeting. Stay away from pardons. Don’t go after Jack Smith, or the Harris campaign, or the nonprofits, or the blue voting areas. Leave them be! Trump has more important things to do than try to punch perceived enemies in the face. And for what? He’ll be President: they won’t come after him now, they will be too busy going after other people.

Thanks,

Get me a job,

[REDACTED]”