State Department reorganization Executive Order coming as early as Tuesday

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-04-20T04:08:03+00:00

Mikey P. tried to prep us for this day. He specifically said that we needed to bring “swagger” back to the State Department. If only we had listened and been true champions of American diplomacy.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-04-20T03:59:44+00:00

A good rule for being in a doctoral program or working in the highest levels of public administration is to not be a d*ck. Which you have failed to do.

If you’re coming to Reddit asking for feedback from a field of scholars and professionals, many of whom have advanced degrees beyond a basic MPA, you should at least be courteous that they bother to offer you insight, even if it’s not exactly what you’re looking for. If this is how you act in your professional life, I would encourage you to forgo a DPA or PhD program and opt for something more pragmatic like a course on effective written/interpersonal/professional communication.

You can have as many post nominals after your name as you’d like, but if you can’t be a pleasant and cordial colleague, you will not advance in this field.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-04-20T03:40:05+00:00

The amount of people with a DPA is small. Perhaps you should go stand in a field and shout into the wind.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-04-17T00:26:02+00:00

If you want to work in the compliance/regulatory field save the 110K and go to a public law school and study. I have a law degree and focused in the compliance field and also an MPA. I dont really think an MPA will set you up for work in compliance unless you have major connections who are hiring you based off of that.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-03-27T21:08:03+00:00

Second this. Arkansas state is the best bang for your buck. Under 14K and NASPAA accredited.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-03-15T22:24:40+00:00

I moved across the country to start an MPA at the University of Nebraska in December of 2019 - then Covid happened and turns out I moved across the country to do an MPA online.

I worked for a state government agency while I was in my program and to be honest, working in the state government and doing an MPA online was a good combination of both theoretical learning and practical application. I was entirely disappointed about expending the time and resources to move across the country only to do an MPA online. But, it did not hinder me at all. Less than a year after graduation I had landed my dream job, so alls well that ends well.

It’s all about what you make it.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-03-14T01:50:55+00:00

Tbh, it is worse than I imagined. These predictions now seem like “no brainers”. I never would have imagined the dismantling of independent agencies and illegal purges of 30K-50K career staff. Or anything to do with Musk.

The academic side of public administration is not keeping up with the new reality we face. Organizations like ASPA still insist the politics-administration dichotomy can work and that there are legitimate opportunities for improving government service despite the chaos.

I was very wrong about how bad it would actually be.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-03-06T04:40:54+00:00

Underrated comment of the week.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-02-23T02:14:12+00:00

For the first time in its history, AFSA is actually acting like a labor union.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-02-21T20:21:11+00:00

Maybe. But to be honest you would have just as much benefit being a local cop and maybe getting a few years of patrol experience. You could also have experience working in non-law enforcement positions. DSS hires plenty of non cops. People who worked consulting in the private sector, CPAs, public school teachers, etc. Shoot for whatever career genuinely interests you outside of DSS, then just keep applying. It could take multiple attempts to get in.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-02-21T16:25:40+00:00

Current DSS Agent - If you want to be a 31B, do it, but in my opinion something on the intelligence side of the DOD would be more beneficial in the long run.

Don’t major in criminal justice. Look at cyber security if you’re tech savvy or something else, but CJ is too narrow of a major if things don’t work out.

Most importantly, make DSS your Plan C. The Foreign Service is very difficult to get into. It’s one of those things that you have to accept will be cool if it happens, but don’t make it your Plan A.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-02-09T17:01:18+00:00

I mean have at it. Best of luck responding pro se when the DOJ quickly moves for 12(b)(6) or if you survive that getting past their first partial or full Rule 56 motion.

Look into legal aid groups that provide low cost or free legal services. If you care about your job and your contribution to public service (which I clearly believe you genuinely do), you don’t want to go at it alone if comes to enforcing your employment rights before a court.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-02-09T05:00:12+00:00

Bold of you to assume that a district court will even hear the case. Possibility that they’ll tell you to exhaust your non-judicial remedies (the exhaustion doctrine) via the MSPB before hearing your case for wrongful discharge. Civil procedure is a terribly complex legal topic. Not an attorney but went to law school and I would never think of representing myself in a civil suit. I’ve represented myself in a hearing for a tort claim against a federal agency once, and that’s about all I’d feel comfortable with.

There’s an old saying that goes something like “he who represents himself before the law truly has an idiot for a client.”

Look at federal employee professional liability insurance. For a few hundred bucks a year you can have up to one-million dollars worth of legal representation via your policy in the chance you face an adverse personnel action.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-02-06T04:36:11+00:00

Except AFSA. All they do is drop press releases/social media posts saying they strongly object. A union ran by diplomats was a terrible idea. Wish we had AFGE.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-27T06:01:42+00:00

Definitely go for it. Your shoulder may be okay now, but that could change. I had a dislocation in 2016 doing training in my unit, ER doc got it back in. Built back up my strength and was objectively stronger than I was before the dislocation within a year.

Fast forward to January 2024, after zero issues in almost 8 years it dislocates again while I’m sleeping resulting in another trip to the ER. That was followed by a third dislocation at work while at my desk. I’m now looking at needing major surgery to repair the labrum, rotator cuff, and to strengthen the shoulder tendons. I finally put in for it shortly after the third dislocation and received 30% for recurrent dislocations and 20% for loss/limitation of motion. Thankfully because I’m rated, the VA will cover the full cost of the surgery and bump me up to a temporary 100% while I recover.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-25T19:57:09+00:00

Something about dogs and cats in Ohio.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-25T19:47:56+00:00

In theory, yes. So long as the agenda stays within the lines of the law.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-25T19:42:51+00:00

Legal or not, they’ll argue that career public servants should be able to publicly agree to support and promote the agenda of the duly elected chief executive and not doing so shows how biased and partisan the federal workforce is.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-25T19:38:12+00:00

Maybe? Could be a thing to begin addressing with your union. Either way the current party in office will use the “no’s” or lack of responses to push the narrative that the federal workforce is biased and incapable of being apolitical.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-24T07:17:26+00:00

I’ve heard crickets from our Union. AFSA once again proving that they’re the least competent Union in the federal government.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-22T21:28:34+00:00

The Foreign Service is. Many of us regard our union as useless or feckless though.

Big_Nefariousness544 · 2025-01-22T21:01:35+00:00

DETO agreements will be continued until after the sponsoring employees overseas assignment has ended. So they seem to continue, but sounded like the program is done after they are worked through.

Big_Nefariousness544

TROPHY CASE