If a lawmaker blames staff for their legislative or political failures, perhaps they shouldn’t be in Congress. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) has perfected the technique of throwing staffers under the bus, but the public should remember that politicians are ultimately responsible for what comes out of their offices.
Ms. Jayapal, acting as a once-brave champion who sought to tackle Amazon in 2020, claimed that “Two things can be true at the same time: a company can be doing work that is incredibly valued and essential, and it can be treating workers badly.” The same can be said about working on the Hill. An office may have excellent staff working hard to help constituents and shape day-to-day policies. However, a bad office environment can tremendously affect a staffers daily routine and self-worth.
Ms. Jayapal who serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, sent a recent letter to President Biden calling for “vigorous diplomatic efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and ceasefire,” as well as direct talks with Russia to seek avenues for a sovereign and independent Ukraine.
Instead of pursuing peaceful diplomatic negotiations, as 30 House Democrats tried to follow Ms. Jayapal, she withdrew the letter a mere 24 hours later. Her mild form of dissension from a diplomatic approach sent some neocon and neolib ideologues to Twitter to vent their frustrations and preserve the status quo. Although it was Ms. Jayapal herself who approved the release of the letter, she publicly blamed staff for not vetting the months-old draft because she couldn’t acknowledge her own failure.
Krystal Ball in her recent Breaking Points monologue suggested that Ms. Jayapal has "got to go" as the progressive co-chair, since the move deflected blame for a possible blowback onto staff. Prominent journalist Glenn Greenwald suggested that if he were a member of Congress, he would have resigned his seat rather than be subjected to the humiliation played out by such a move. Some, including Ms. Jayapal, continue to serve in Congress for their own best interests despite mistreating and blaming staff for their own failures.
She has had trouble with running a functioning office ever since. In a 2021 BuzzFeed report, with some commentary provided by the NY Post, former staffers of Jayapal have noticed her interactions in the office have been opposite to what her public persona ought to be.
Offices with poor bosses usually have a difficult time retaining staff, and will point fingers instead of fixing their own flaws. Hill staff are not able to publicly reveal themselves due to non-disclosure agreements and fear of retaliation, yet are able to get around the rules by providing anonymous info to outlets that cover the Capitol.
According to staff who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Ms. Jayapal would berate them in front of others, add additional hours to their work, and give little tolerance if an honest human error occurred. As much as congressional staff seek fulfillment in their careers in public service, some in the Washington lawmaker’s office doubted their careers and sought therapy.
It should come as no surprise that Ms. Jayapal has one of the highest rates of turnover in the House because, according to one staffer, it was not a sustainable office to work in the long term.
Dissatisfaction among Hill staff is a well-known secret. A popular account uses the IG handle commonly known in D.C. as “@dear_white_staffers” run by a current staffer who has kept his identity private. Many express their frustrations and personal struggles anonymously about day-to-day life. This collective helps staff understand that they are not alone in their own feelings, for many share the same problems, joys, and exhaustion that make up a congressional office altogether. Creating an open place for staff to vent has led to a rise in union organizations, especially among democratic staffers in hopes that offices will become better working environments for all.
When a member of Congress puts out a public statement blaming an office staffer for their policy failures, the public should hold them accountable by refusing to reelect them. Scapegoating staffers, rather than taking responsibility, shows a failure in leadership, managing office personnel, and the ability to be an effective lawmaker. Bosses can have profoundly lasting effects on their employees — good or bad. Congressional bosses should try to help make staffers’ work meaningful and appreciate them the way these crucial employees should be treated.