Yuval Levin

Those places are full of people who spend their day sitting across the table from private sector people that they're regulating or working with and thinking, I have the same skill set as this guy, but he's got a much nicer house. Why am I working at the FDA rather than at Pfizer? And now there's an answer to that question. And, you know, a lot of people in those jobs really enjoy them.

Those places are full of people who spend their day sitting across the table from private sector people that they're regulating or working with and thinking, I have the same skill set as this guy, but he's got a much nicer house. Why am I working at the FDA rather than at Pfizer? And now there's an answer to that question. And, you know, a lot of people in those jobs really enjoy them.

They like them and they have, you know, they have real significance and authority and that matters to people. But In the federal government, those are the people who are marginally attached to their job, who are constantly thinking, you know, I got to pay for my kid's college in a few years. Shouldn't I be working at a much higher paying contractor job or private sector job?

They like them and they have, you know, they have real significance and authority and that matters to people. But In the federal government, those are the people who are marginally attached to their job, who are constantly thinking, you know, I got to pay for my kid's college in a few years. Shouldn't I be working at a much higher paying contractor job or private sector job?

So that when you make an offer like this buyout offer, it's those people who are thinking, maybe I don't really want to do this job. Whereas the people who are thinking, I can't get another job. I got to stick with this one. I'll do whatever they want.

So that when you make an offer like this buyout offer, it's those people who are thinking, maybe I don't really want to do this job. Whereas the people who are thinking, I can't get another job. I got to stick with this one. I'll do whatever they want.

Those are probably your lower performing employees or at least your less valuable employees so that you're creating a situation where the people who are going to be hardest to replace are the people who are most likely to leave.

Those are probably your lower performing employees or at least your less valuable employees so that you're creating a situation where the people who are going to be hardest to replace are the people who are most likely to leave.

I think the key to that point is in the sense that they're trying to look strong but not doing it in a way that actually is strong. They face a very challenging fact. As much as they want to act as though they've just won a massive election victory and they now dominate everything, they've actually won a very narrow election victory.

I think the key to that point is in the sense that they're trying to look strong but not doing it in a way that actually is strong. They face a very challenging fact. As much as they want to act as though they've just won a massive election victory and they now dominate everything, they've actually won a very narrow election victory.

And their majorities in Congress, especially in the House, are very, very narrow. The House majority is the narrowest majority we've seen since there have been 50 states. And that means they can't get much through Congress on their own.

And their majorities in Congress, especially in the House, are very, very narrow. The House majority is the narrowest majority we've seen since there have been 50 states. And that means they can't get much through Congress on their own.

and the administration is operating so far without really any sense that they need to get anything through Congress except the one big reconciliation bill that'll take care of taxes and spending for the year, they're not thinking in terms of how to advance their agenda as a legislative agenda. The secret to strong executive authority has a lot to do with stability.

and the administration is operating so far without really any sense that they need to get anything through Congress except the one big reconciliation bill that'll take care of taxes and spending for the year, they're not thinking in terms of how to advance their agenda as a legislative agenda. The secret to strong executive authority has a lot to do with stability.

The kind of sense of security that an effective administration can provide depends on knowing where you're headed and moving there incrementally in a way that allows you to achieve big things without making people scared of what you're up to. I think the logic of administrative power that we're seeing operating here so far is just about the opposite of that.

The kind of sense of security that an effective administration can provide depends on knowing where you're headed and moving there incrementally in a way that allows you to achieve big things without making people scared of what you're up to. I think the logic of administrative power that we're seeing operating here so far is just about the opposite of that.

It's the sense that you show strength by coming in and tearing everything down and starting everything over and doing big things right away at the start so that there's a kind of shock and awe that leaves people thinking, wow, these people are really assertive. And that has happened. I think people do have that sense. And obviously there are some advantages you gain by conveying that sense.

It's the sense that you show strength by coming in and tearing everything down and starting everything over and doing big things right away at the start so that there's a kind of shock and awe that leaves people thinking, wow, these people are really assertive. And that has happened. I think people do have that sense. And obviously there are some advantages you gain by conveying that sense.

You do scare people into doing what you want some, and you do give the impression that you're strong. But ultimately, it's very hard to make durable change in that way. Part of the reason I do think is exactly as you say, that durable change actually requires legislation in our system. Anything that isn't legislated isn't durable.

You do scare people into doing what you want some, and you do give the impression that you're strong. But ultimately, it's very hard to make durable change in that way. Part of the reason I do think is exactly as you say, that durable change actually requires legislation in our system. Anything that isn't legislated isn't durable.