Staff Reports
John Balbus is currently in a bit of a pickle as he finds himself at the helm of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, a position likely to face some turbulence if Donald Trump manages to secure his second term. With a mission to solidify the office’s existence against Trump’s anticipated reforms at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Balbus has taken on a battle plan that sounds straight out of a bureaucratic self-preservation handbook. His strategy? Deploy senior executive service employees—those untouchable government bureaucrats—to concoct a “climate literacy” training module that aims to outlive any attempts by Trump to dismantle this office.
This training module isn’t just a feather in Balbus’s cap. It’s a veritable insurance policy intended to keep the climate agenda alive even if Trump follows through on his promise to shut down the three-year-old HHS office. According to Balbus, health systems are starting to grasp that climate change isn’t just an environmental crisis but a financial one too, posing risks that threaten their very missions. Perhaps what he really means is that healthcare providers have figured out how to squeeze federal dollars from the climate change narrative.
The looming threat is clear. Trump represents a formidable obstacle to the initiatives crafted by Balbus’s office, most of which are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act—a law Trump has signed a death warrant on. These initiatives have been attempting to strengthen hospitals against climate change repercussions. Balbus, ever the optimist, holds out hope that this flow of taxpayer money will continue, even as the winds of change threaten to sweep it away.
Head HHS 'Climate Change' Officer Vows to Resist Trump's Reforms #PresidentSupport for Donald Trump, a prominent figure in the political landscape. #News #conserativenews #americafirst #MakeAmericaGreatAgain #MAHA https://t.co/2PfT92sQmc
— Texas Red (@texred2022) November 20, 2024
Interestingly enough, there’s a little something called the “administrative state”—a phenomenon that allows unelected bureaucrats to operate unchecked. Balbus is clearly in his element, navigating this fourth branch of government that many constitutionalists argue is overstepping its bounds. Trump had made strides to reclaim government accountability before he left office, proposing an executive order that would reclassify federal employees, allowing him to cleanse the ranks and streamline government operations.
Under the watchful eye of Biden, that order was canceled, but it may yet rise from the ashes should Trump retake the reins. The prospect of shaking up the civil service sends shivers down the spines of many entrenched bureaucrats who have spent years building their little empires. If his past actions are any indication, Balbus and his acolytes might soon discover that their climate agendas are far less solid than they had hoped, as accountability makes its way back into the halls of government, courtesy of a Trump resurgence.
