From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Blinken on rumored federal walkout against Biden’s Israel policy: ‘People need to be on the job to do the job’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is asked about speculation that federal employees from 22 agencies will hold a walkout today in protest of the administration’s Israel policy.
Those participating in the protest are understood to be low-level staffers with little-to-no influence on the administration’s policy.
Blinken says he wants the State Department to be a place where employees are comfortable expressing their opinions and that he’s written each of the several dissent memos that some staff members have submitted in protest of US President Joe Biden’s support for Israel.
“But people also need to be on the job to do the job,” Blinken clarifies during an interview with CNBC.
“If the policies an administration is pursuing that individuals object to in a way that they can’t continue to work, that’s their decision,” he adds.
The walkout was rumored to take place on Tuesday, but as of 4 p.m. it had not taken place.
Federal offices have also been formally closed today due to the weather.
SecState Blinken on federal employees’ walkout to protest admin’s Gaza policy:
“I want to make sure that people feel that they can say what they believe, express themselves. But that they ultimately have to be on the job and do their jobs.” pic.twitter.com/NUzKrA8Jwu
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) January 16, 2024
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