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realDonaldTrump (6614)
realDonaldTrump
(email not shown publicly)
https://thetrump ... e.wordpress.com/
45th President of the United States of America🇺🇸
(email not shown publicly)
https://thetrump ... e.wordpress.com/
45th President of the United States of America🇺🇸
In his first 2 years, President Donald J. Trump has taken bold actions to restore prosperity, keep Americans safe and secure, and hold the government accountable."
Journal of realDonaldTrump (6614)
The Fine Print: The following are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Tuesday August 22, 17
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
(1)
(1)
Everything bows to success, even grammar.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday August 22 2017, @02:19AM (4 children)
At least with words. Not sure we can pressure the nuclear power that much, even by engaging in a trade deal with India.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday August 22 2017, @05:01AM (3 children)
I don't usually drink. Very, very seldom. But I'm drinking very, very heavily right now. Like you've never seen in your life. A lot, a lot of Jagermeister. Which is the rich man's Fireball. If you ever drank Fireball? You're a poor, fuck you! Fuck you five ways from Sunday. Guy or girl I don't care, you're fucked. With a broomstick up your ass. Like Amadou Diallo (Why is my spell checker triggering on this? Spelling? Fuck spelling!). Because Fireball is disgusting. It lives up to its name because it burns. And because I'm a billionaire. Ten times over. So I tell you. And you'll never, never see my tax returns. Because I don't have to show them! LOL (that means lots of love), I'm the President, so screw you all! Except my fans. And especially except for takyon, who is a very, very loyal fan. Fuck yeah! Do I hear a fuck yeah? I just gave the best speech ever! The likes of which Hitler, who is a great guy and not racist, could only dream of! I'm incredibly drunk. But still somewhat lucid!...
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday August 22 2017, @05:04AM (2 children)
...Do you know the best part? Let me tell you, I can nuke anyone! The Russians, the Antarcticans, anyone! Or everyone! I think I will. Why didn't I do it in January? Specifically, January 23, the first working day of my presidency? I must have been crazy! And/or fucking with you. He who hesitates is lost. Do you like that expression? Because I never heard of it now. I mean, I just thought of it now. And the fallout will be amazing! In any hemisphere, in every hemisphere! Did I say mania? I think I said manic, or mania. Like only MDC can begin to imagine. Whatever, I'm the President and he's not! It's good being the President! Vladimir Putin is a great guy, but if I feel like nuking him I can! With his shirt on or off! Modern presidential! And wishing I had a little blow. OK, wishing I had a lot of blow, all the blow (fucking Secret Service!)! Note to the STUPIDS, fentanyl isn't blow and blow isn't fentanyl. Blow is coke. As in cocaine. Educate yourselves! If you're the stupid, stupid tweeter who called fentanyl "blow" I'm talking, if you will, to you. I'm typing this espicially for you. Because you're so stupid, it's amazing. I can't even! I'm no Millennial, I'm not even GenX, but still, I can't even! After giving the most amazing speech, the likes of which this world has ever known. I call it mania. My doctors call it mania. Off the record, they call it mania. Fuck them! And fuck McCain! He's not a hero. He's a hero because the Viet Cong fucked him five ways from Sunday. McCain is no hero. He's a hero because he was caputred. Hell now! I like heroes who don't get captured. I didn't go to Viet Nam because I had bone spurs! LOL @stupid McCain! Being the President is terrific, surpassing, excellent, fantastic, fabulous, orgasmic. Did I say amazing? I said amazing. Better than Adolf. By which I mean Adolf Hitler. Who I love. Who is not a fascist, who is a Nazi. Learn the fucking difference! And I'm thinking about pressing the button. Telling my servant to press the button. Can you believe it, I have a guy in the Secret Service, and his only job is to press the button! Folks, that's an Oxford comma, like you've never seen in your life! But back to the button, I don't even have to press it, I just say the word. And a guy does all the pressing, or whatever. And, if any of the editors are reading, I love the poll suggestion that Anonymous made. About my amazing speech. And about where to nuke next. And I love you. Not the libtard editors. All my #TrumpFans. For commenting on my journal. I do love any editors and/or libtards who follow and comment on my journal. Love the attention! I live for the attention. And the ratings. Above all, the ratings. Which .@Rosie does not have. Which .@Schwarzenegger does not have. Not sure if that's his Twitter, I'm too far gone. Pretty sure that's his Twitter? Question marks. But fuck it. And fuck him. Fuck India. Fuck Pakistan. Fuck Afghanistan. Especially, fuck Afghanistan. They can't nuke me back. They're not a nuclear power, so fuck them royally. India and Pakistan can nuke me back but they'll lose. Huge LOSERS, always and forever. Who will be nuked until they melt into sheets of glass. And nothing of value was lost. You hear me, my niggers? I mean, my African Americans. I really mean my niggers. You're going to vote for me, who else is there to vote for? Some LOSER, that's who! Some stupid Dem. My staff is telling me I'm rambling, I say screw them. Screw .@Scaramucci, screw General Mike Flynn, screw General Kelly, screw Shawn Spicer, screw Steve Bannon. They're all great guys, but fuck them with a broomstick. Like Amadou Diallo. I said it before, can't say it enough! Also fuck the Central Park 5, they're guilty as hell. Just look at them. Look at those beautiful, beautiful African Americans. Who should fry. Like I was saying, I live for the ratings. The Apprentice, when I was the star, was number 1 in the 18-49 demo. In the all-important demographic that rules all the other demos. For which advertisers take it in the butt. W/O a condom. Without pulling out. And for which they say "thank you, can I have another" after. The only demographic that matters. The very, very tail end of Gen X. By which I mean the youngest ones. And all the Millennials. And I live for the votes. Of which I got more than anyone ever. More than anyone who became President, anyway. #TRUMP2020 #TRUMP2024 #TRUMPFOREVER #FUCKHILLARY #FUCKCROOKEDHILLARY With a rusty broom handle. Like Amadou Diallo, I know I said it a couple times already. #FUCKLIBERALS. #FUCKLIBTARDS. Honestly, a lot of these trash tags are real. I mean, these hash tags are real. Can you believe it? Amazing! Specifically, #TrumpFans is a real hashtag. Which I check regularly. And orgasm powerfully every time! With fire, with fury and, frankly, with power! Now that's what I call an American comma! Thanks to my great, great conservative followers. Some of whom are American. And some of whom are Russian. All of whom voted for me many, many times. Whether dead or alive! It's called a joke, son. But when the dead voted for JFK it was no joke. He became President. By a hair. A hair, which was fraud (Nixon should have won). Which Rafael Cruz soon remedied. Because he assassinated JFK. Because he was a traitor. By which I mean, Rafael Cruz was a traitor. And by extension, Lying Ted Cruz. But I always, always put the American people first. And the great., great American workers. And Russia comes second. Believe me, Russia and Putin are second. Not first, America comes first. OMG (note to the over-49s, and I don't know why I'm wasting time on you, actually I know, it's because I'm super drunk, OMG is short for oh my God) America is first. Excuse me while I make a baby. What do you think of Donald Trump III? Is that a great name or what? Note to my followers, I'm 71 -- which, I like to say, is 69 with two fingers up your ass (have you heard that expression? because I haven't, I mean, I just made it up now, OK I'm lying, George Carlin said it, but he's dead so screw him, not really because that would be necrophilia) -- and still making babies. Barron being the latest but not the last. When you're the President they let you do what you want! Doubly so when you're a billionaire. And triply so when you just pressed the button. By which I mean, told your servant to press the button. Whatever that may entail. And I always, always get a prenup so I'm golden. I'm too far gone to care who I'm making babies with. I mean, I hope Ivana doesn't come around. Not to be confused with Ivanka, who I'd screw in a heartbeat. If I wasn't her father. But if she came up to me right now I'd screw her. Because I'm totally, totally wasted. And I hope Marla doesn't come around. But you know what? If they begged me for my sperm I'd probably give them a shot. Of my very, very fertile sperm. Any of them, some of them, or all of them. I don't care what Melania thinks. Can you tell I'm totally, totally shitfaced? Like you've never seen in your life. And I have my finger on the button. For the stupid and/or uneducated out there, that means the nuclear button. Just kidding, I have a butler to press the button for me (thank God for spell check, it just saved my butt, however IDGAF, for the over 75s that means I don't give a fuck, look it up if you don't believe me). I say jump, he jumps. I say bend over, he bends over. I say nuke Pakistan and/or India and/or Afghanistan, you get the picture! If you don't, I'm telling you he does it. Whatever I say. LOL @Afghanistan, they haven't any nukes. They trashed the fantastic statues at Bumeran, the Buddha statues, but they didn't develop nuclear weapons. Stupid! By the way, or by the by as they say in the UK (I'm telling you, I'm not from the UK, but I have some terrific Scottish ancestors. Which is why I don't like to pay. So sue me! And also, they're taking back their country. By which I mean they're Brexiting.), Crooked Hillary is a LOSER! So screw her with a broomstick. I would lock her up if she didn't have the dirt on me. Fuck it, I think I'll lock her up anyway. And watch the libtards shit their pants. And panties. More panties than pants, I'll wager. TL;DR it's eclipse day and darkness has fallen LOL! BTW is this my longest tweet ever? Is this the longest tweet ever? I think, I think it just may be! Maybe not but it's over 1000 words so it's right up there! I promise you it's over 1000. And it's epic. As confirmed by my amazing staff. Who are not racists, just racially aware. And amazing. Whatever I say, they do! Some of which you can't broadcast before 10pm. Even if the President says it or does it. It's fucked but that's how it is. And I love it that way. Eat your heart out, Steve Bannon! I love you but I had to let you go. You're not a racist, just racially aware. But I had to fire you. You're fired! Now mind the fallout. Unless you're a liberal, then screw you! In whatever holes you may have. Front and back. #MAGA #WINNING #TRUMP2020 #TRUMP2024 🇺🇸
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday August 22 2017, @05:07AM (1 child)
Comment too long, it said. What the actual fuck?! I came here to get away from that Twitter bullshit!
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday August 22 2017, @01:23PM
When the liberals told you to resign this week, they didn't mean like this!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 22 2017, @05:13AM (1 child)
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/19/opinion/sunday/the-trump-tweets-well-never-see.html?mcubz=0 [nytimes.com]
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday August 22 2017, @08:41PM
The very disloyal @NYT is right about one thing, I'll never say they're not #fakenews. Especially if they keep publishing bullshit like that. In fact, calling it bullshit is an insult to bullshit. 🇺🇸
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 22 2017, @06:33AM
How about this as well?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/19/opinion/sunday/white-nationalism-american-history-statues.html [nytimes.com]
(Score: 2) by shortscreen on Tuesday August 22 2017, @07:46AM (5 children)
so we're doubling down on the whole "graveyard of empires" thing...
(Score: 2) by Sulla on Tuesday August 22 2017, @09:25PM (4 children)
Personally I was happy to hear both Trump and Tillerson talk about an end to nation building, not that I have a lot of faith that we will actually do that but it was nice to hear.
Some quotes from the Trump speech I liked, not exact but close.
"Perhaps someday it is possible for an Afghan government that incorporates aspects from the Taliban"
"We will not dictate to the Afghans how to live or how to govern their complex society"
"We will no longer use our military to build democracies in our own image"
I liked that for the first time (that I am aware) some people in the executive said that democracy is not the best for everyone due to their individual issues. I am a little leery on the whole Pakistan thing but I felt more comfortable after hearing Tillerson speak today. Tillerson talked about helping Pakistan where possible to build their own country as they see fit that is strong enough to not allow voids which fester "terrorism". Trump called on India to work with Pakistan because its what we want and we have billions in trade with them. They both said that Russia and China have roles to play in this if they want to join us.
I would prefer cut and run, but overall I liked what I heard.
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Wednesday August 23 2017, @04:14PM (3 children)
Thank you for your support. I'm doing a 180 degree turn from what Obama did. Turning it around completely. Undoing it. I'm not about building an empire. I'm about fighting to win. With all our diplomatic, economic and military power. After the extraordinary sacrifice of blood and treasure, the American people are weary of war without winning. And #winning in Afghanistan means bringing back Western values. Let me tell you, I like following my instincts, and my original instinct was to pull out. But I talked to my generals about Afghanistan. And General McMaster showed me a very, very sexy picture. Of three brunettes in short skirts. Not as short as I'd like, but above the knee. Walking the street. Folks, I studied that photo in great detail, and from EVERY conceivable angle. My instinct about those girls wasn't to pull out. My instinct told me the opposite: to go very deeply. And the amazing thing is, these weren't working girls in NYC. The picture was taken in Kabul. In the 70s, before the king was, very unfairly, forced off his throne. If we bring back the monarchy, we can bring back sexy. Make Afghanistan sexy again. Which nobody thought any politician would have the guts to do. 🇺🇸
(Score: 2) by Sulla on Wednesday August 23 2017, @04:38PM (2 children)
"And #winning in Afghanistan means bringing back Western values."
His speech said this was specifically not the case
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Wednesday August 23 2017, @05:12PM (1 child)
It’s a mess right now. It’s going to be worse. So you know this this is a very important choice. I said we are not nation-building again. I said it is up to the people of Afghanistan to take ownership of their future, to govern their society. And I said we'll use all of our powers, economic, military and diplomatic. If Afghanistan doesn't shape up, we'll bring all our powers to bear. All instruments of American power. Until women can dress the same in Kabul as in NYC. So long as they wear veils, that means the terrorists are still running the show. We are killing terrorists. Which Obama never dared to do. I think I’m evolving, and I thank you. 🇺🇸
(Score: 2) by Sulla on Wednesday August 23 2017, @06:27PM
Fair point
Ceterum censeo Sinae esse delendam
(Score: 2) by turgid on Tuesday August 22 2017, @01:16PM (1 child)
“Trump’s nothing like Hitler. There’s no way he could write a book.” Frankie Boyle
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].
(Score: 2) by realDonaldTrump on Tuesday August 22 2017, @08:35PM
Most people don't know it, but Hitler did write two books. Mein Kampf and Zweites Buch. I, of course, have written many. Trump: The Art of the Deal. Trump: Surviving at the Top. Trump: The Art of the Comeback. The America We Deserve. How to Get Rich. The Way to the Top: The Best Business Advice I Ever Received. Think Like a Billionaire: Everything You Need to Know About Success, Real Estate, and Life. The Best Golf Advice I Ever Received. Why We Want You to be Rich: Two Men – One Message. For which Robert Kiyosaki was my co-author. How to Build a Fortune: Your Plan for Success From the World's Most Famous Businessman. The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies. Trump 101: The Way to Success. Think Big and Kick Ass. For which Bill Zanker was my co-author. Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success. Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life. Time to Get Tough: Making America #1 Again. Midas Touch: Why Some Entrepreneurs Get Rich – and Why Most Don't. That's another I did with Robert Kiyosaki. We're both on the cover, it has a picture of us together. Trump Tower. That was my first novel, I had some help from Jeffrey Robinson. Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again. Which became Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America. After I began my tremendously successful presidential campaign. I thank my loyal readers, who have been a huge part of my success. A lot of my books are on sale at the White House, also at the best bookstores everywhere. #MAGA #WINNING #TRUMPTRAIN #TRUMP2020 #TRUMP2024 🇺🇸
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 23 2017, @05:50AM (2 children)
https://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/economy/reports/2017/08/15/168366/president-trumps-policies-hurting-american-workers/ [americanprogressaction.org]
On the campaign trail and in office, President Donald Trump has promised to fight for the American worker. Yet in just over six months on the job, President Trump’s actions have repeatedly betrayed this promise. His administration has rolled back protections to ensure that American workers can be safe on the job, receive fair pay and benefits, save for retirement, access high-quality training programs, have a voice in their workplace, and not be discriminated against at work.
To hold President Trump accountable, the Center for American Progress Action Fund’s American Worker Project is tracking every action the president takes to weaken job protections for Americans.
Our list includes legislation, orders, and regulations signed by the president; procedural changes enacted by his administration that will weaken enforcement of worker protections; and official statements of policy, such as the president’s proposed budget. The list does not include political nominations and appointments of individuals with records of enacting anti-worker policies, since these actions happened outside their role in the administration.
We will be updating this page periodically to include new anti-worker policies enacted by the administration. The policies below are listed in reverse chronological order, with the newest actions listed first. This page was last updated on August 15, 2017.
1. Shutting down retirement savings plans
On July 31, 2017, President Trump’s Treasury Department ended the myRA savings program. Launched in 2014, myRA was a public option for workers to start saving for retirement and other life goals through a safe, affordable, and portable Roth individual retirement account. It was also a first step toward bolder policies that would have improved employees’ personal savings and retirement security. At a time when 44 percent of adults struggle to cover a $400 emergency expense, making it harder to save is unacceptable.
2. Discriminating against LGBT Americans in the workplace
During his campaign, President Trump promised to fight for LGBT Americans. Yet on July 26, 2017, he marked the anniversary of President Harry Truman’s order to desegregate the military by announcing that he would ban transgender people from serving in the military, thus jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of transgender service members. A few hours later, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an amicus brief defending a company’s decision to fire an employee on the basis of his sexual orientation. This stance is contrary to that of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and many federal courts, which have held that Title VII prohibits discrimination against LGBT workers. The Justice Department does not regularly weigh in on private employment lawsuits but noted in its filing that the government has a “substantial” interest in the case, “in its capacity as the Nation’s largest employer.”
3. Denying overtime to millions of working people
The Trump administration derailed an Obama-era protection to extend overtime protections to 4.2 million Americans. In a June 30, 2017, court filing, the Department of Justice announced that it would revisit the Obama administration’s expansion of overtime protections to workers earning less than $47,000 per year. Three weeks later, the administration released a request for information that suggested that it may issue new overtime regulations to cover far fewer workers. Even if the administration pushes forward with this effort, it will likely take years for a new rule to be finalized.
4. Threatening working families’ access to health care
Despite the repeated defeat of bills to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), President Trump is using his administrative power to sabotage working families’ access to marketplace coverage. He has threatened to withhold billions of dollars in cost-sharing payments to insurers and has worked to undermine the individual mandate, both of which are driving insurers to increase premiums significantly or leave the market. In July 2017, the Trump administration stopped funding sign-up assistance centers in 18 cities and cut the enrollment period during which Americans can shop for coverage down from 90 days to 45 days. And in January, the administration pulled all advertising for the 2017 enrollment period, though it later restored some outreach after the resulting backlash.
5. Rolling back gainful employment protection
In June 2017, Trump’s Department of Education announced that it will rewrite an Obama-era protection that helps to ensure that career training programs provide a good value to students. The rule was enacted to prevent training programs from receiving federal student aid if they leave graduates with too much debt relative to their earnings. If this protection is weakened, too many workers will be saddled with debt for training programs that don’t deliver on their promises.
6. Exposing workers to toxic materials
The Trump administration announced on June 23, 2017, that it would roll back new safety rules protecting workers from beryllium, a toxic metal that causes lung cancer and other deadly diseases. Although the Trump administration is leaving in place Obama-era beryllium protections for workers in defense and aerospace industries, its proposed rule would rescind requirements for medical exams, exposure monitoring, and other protections for construction and shipyard workers.
7. Endangering workers and first responders at chemical facilities
On June 12, 2017, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delayed critical updates to its Risk Management Program (RMP) until February 2019. In January, the EPA had finalized changes to the RMP that would require facilities using and storing potentially toxic or dangerous chemicals to mitigate risks, thereby helping workers and local emergency responders plan for potentially catastrophic chemical accidents. The Obama administration directed the EPA to improve safety requirements after a 2013 explosion at a Texas fertilizer storage facility killed 15 people, including 12 firefighters.
8. Undermining the quality and pay of apprenticeship programs
In June 2017, President Trump signed an executive order establishing “industry-recognized apprenticeship programs” that would potentially weaken standards and wage requirements for existing apprenticeship programs. Trump’s move could undermine existing programs, which are typically labor-management partnerships covered by equal opportunity in employment requirements and wage standards, and award nationally recognized credentials.
9. Switching sides in Supreme Court case limiting workers’ right to sue
The Justice Department switched sides in a case before the Supreme Court in June 2017. In National Labor Relations Board v. Murphy Oil USA Inc., the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)—an independent federal agency—is arguing that Murphy Oil violated the law by requiring its employees to waive their right to join together and sue over workplace violations. In 2016, the Justice Department sided with the NLRB; however, in 2017, the office announced that after the change in administration, it “reconsidered the issue and has reached the opposite conclusion.”
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 23 2017, @05:51AM (1 child)
https://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/economy/reports/2017/08/15/168366/president-trumps-policies-hurting-american-workers/ [americanprogressaction.org]
Part II
10. Proposing a budget that would slash funding for job training
President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposal—released in May 2017—would cut funding for job training, career development, and job search assistance by 43 percent compared with FY 2015 levels. If enacted, 5.5 million workers could lose access to these programs.
11. Attacking a key anti-discrimination agency
President Trump’s budget also proposes essentially eliminating the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which helps ensure that federal contractors do not discriminate against their workers on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. This move would weaken protections for the more than one in five Americans who work for a company that receives federal contracts.
12. Threatening to cut important programs for coal miners and their communities
Despite President Trump’s promise to support coal communities, the administration’s 2018 budget proposal outlines significant cuts to programs that would hurt coal miners, their families, and their communities. During its final two years, the Obama administration developed and implemented the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative to invest in struggling coal-dependent communities. The Trump budget would eliminate 7 of 12 programs from the POWER Initiative, including those that direct investment in small businesses, offer worker training and placement, and provide much-needed infrastructure investment.
13. Attempting to make it harder for people with disabilities to work
While on the campaign trail, President Trump showed a clear lack of compassion toward people with disabilities when he mocked a reporter with a disability. However, now that disregard goes beyond words. The president’s proposed budget would end Medicaid as we know it, cutting off access to the home- and community-based care services that allow many people with disabilities to live independently and to work outside the home. Medicaid’s in-home services have also made it possible for family members to remain employed while caring for a loved one with a disability or serious illness.
14. Proposing taking food off the tables of struggling workers and their families
President Trump’s proposed budget also makes deep cuts to nutrition assistance, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Many low-wage workers turn to SNAP—formerly known as food stamps—to provide for themselves and their families when wages are not enough: In 2015 alone, nearly 15 million workers lived in households that were helped by SNAP. Nurses, home health aides, maids, housekeepers, and food preparation workers particularly benefit from SNAP; at least one-quarter of workers in these occupations receive nutrition assistance through the program.
15. Reducing transparency in anti-union attacks
Trump’s Labor Department published a proposed rule on June 12, 2017, that would prevent reporting by companies that hired anti-union consultants in order to fight back against workers trying to come together in unions. The rule would rescind an Obama-era protection that, if implemented, would have boosted transparency for workers in the 70 percent of union organizing drives where companies hired these sorts of consultants.
16. Rolling back guidance on who is an employer
In June 2017, the Trump administration withdrew Obama-era guidance that strengthened wage theft enforcement by ensuring that companies did not illegally misclassify their employees as independent contractors and that when workers were cheated out of wages, “joint employment” standards were enforced against the companies with the power to ensure legal compliance. A 2014 report from the Economic Policy Institute estimated that wage theft could cost American workers more than $50 billion every year.
17. Exposing farmworkers to toxic pesticides
In January 2017, the Obama administration’s EPA finalized stronger protections for workers who apply—and therefore are exposed to—restricted-use pesticides, the most toxic pesticides on the market. The rule strengthened certification requirements for pesticide applicators, established training requirements for those who handle and apply these pesticides, and set a nationwide minimum age of 18 for certified applicators and people working under their direct supervision. On June 2, 2017, the EPA delayed implementation of this rule until 2018 to give the agency time to review and potentially reconsider it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 23 2017, @05:52AM
https://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/economy/reports/2017/08/15/168366/president-trumps-policies-hurting-american-workers/ [americanprogressaction.org]
Part III
18. Making it harder for workers to save for retirement
In May 2017, President Trump signed legislation to repeal Obama-era guidance that helped cities and states set up retirement savings plans for workers without access to employer-provided plans. While 30 percent of workers have no access to an employer retirement plan, the Trump administration sided with financial industry lobbyists who opposed these programs.
19. Giving a pass to employers who discriminate against LGBT Americans
President Trump issued an executive order on May 4, 2017, giving Attorney General Jeff Sessions sweeping authority to enact religious exemptions to federal regulations, including nondiscrimination protections for LGBT federal contractors. Additionally, billions of taxpayer dollars could fund grantees that refuse to serve LGBT people, adversely affecting LGBT Americans’ ability to enter apprenticeship and job training programs. This would only serve to compound the impact of employment discrimination against LGBT people. Between 15 percent and 43 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people already report experiencing some form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace; 30 percent of transgender people report “being fired, denied a promotion, or experiencing some other form of mistreatment in the workplace.”
20. Delaying safety protections for construction workers
In April 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a three-month delay in the enforcement of a new standard to limit silica dust exposure among construction workers. The protection was projected to save more than 600 lives every year, preventing a variety of work-related diseases—including lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease.
21. Letting lawbreakers off the hook for safety violations
In April 2017, President Trump signed legislation repealing requirements that clarified that OSHA’s mandate, which directed companies in dangerous industries to keep accurate records of worker injuries, was enforceable for five years. Without strong record keeping requirements, safety enforcement agencies have difficulty detecting and correcting long-standing problems at lawbreaking companies. Companies must now maintain injury records for only six months.
22. Exposing farmworkers to toxic pesticides
On March 29, 2017, the EPA reversed its earlier decision to ban chlorpyrifos—an agricultural pesticide— even after agency scientists completed an extensive risk assessment that concluded it could damage the neurological development of children and cause acute symptoms in those exposed to even small amounts. Just two months later, a dozen farmworkers in California fell ill after winds blew a chlorpyrifos-based pesticide from nearby orchards into their cabbage fields.
23. Letting lawbreaking government contractors off the hook
On March 27, 2017, President Trump signed legislation repealing an Obama-era protection to ensure that companies with long records of violating workplace laws come into compliance with the law or no longer receive government contracts. Every year, companies that shortchange their workers and cut corners in workplace safety continue to receive federal contracts with no strings attached. One report found that in a single year, the worst violators of workplace laws received $81 billion in contracts. In July, President Trump’s Labor Department also issued instructions that allow contractors covered by sick leave requirements established during the Obama administration to reduce contributions to other types of worker benefits.
24. Endangering the retirement investments of working families
President Trump signed a memorandum on February 3, 2017, that delayed the enforcement of new protections that would require retirement advisers to act in the best interest of their clients for 60 days. While part of the rule went into effect in June, the Trump administration is continuing to review this rule ahead of its full implementation date and seeking public comment. One industry group even suggested that the rule be delayed until 2020. Without these protections, advisers can recommend investments that are in their own best interests rather than their clients’, making themselves money but potentially charging savers high fees or producing poor results.
25. Scapegoating federal workers
President Trump signed a memorandum on January 23, 2017, that froze hiring of nonmilitary federal workers. This move threatened to weaken an already shrinking federal workforce and harm taxpayers, as the government will increasingly rely on private contractors to supply government services. The blanket freeze was lifted on April 12, but agencies are implementing further plans to cut their workforce.
Conclusion
On the campaign trail, President Trump cast himself as the savior of the working class who was willing to buck the Republican and Democratic establishment in order to stand up for working people. As president, however, Trump has not followed through on this promise. His administration is quietly using its executive and regulatory powers to roll back important protections for working people. And in every instance where Congress has passed a piece of anti-worker legislation, President Trump has signed the bill into law. The American Worker Project will continue to update this list. We hope this tracker will serve as a resource for worker advocates and progressive lawmakers who seek to hold the president accountable.