'You know Thanos is the bad guy': Vivek Ramaswamy trolled as he vows to 'fire 50% of federal bureaucrats'
WASHINGTON, DC: Vivek Ramaswamy has been receiving a plethora of responses since his declaration of firing 50 percent of the federal workers if he becomes the president in the upcoming election in 2024.
Taking to his social media, Ramaswamy posted on November 12 about firing half the bureaucrats based on their Social Security Numbers.
The Republican presidential aspirant wrote on his social media, "On Day 1, *instantly* fire 50% of federal bureaucrats."
On Day 1, *instantly* fire 50% of federal bureaucrats.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 12, 2023
Here’s how: if your SSN ends in an odd number, you’re fired.
That downsizes government by half. Absolutely *nothing* will break as a result.
It doesn’t violate civil service rules because mass layoffs are exempt.
SHUT IT…
Ramaswamy explained, "Here’s how: if your SSN ends in an odd number, you’re fired," before adding, "That downsizes government by half."
He further claimed that the mass firing will not affect the government and said, "Absolutely *nothing* will break as a result. It doesn’t violate civil service rules because mass layoffs are exempt," before adding, "SHUT IT DOWN."
The founder of Roivant Sciences said in September that he would be firing 75% of the federal workers and shutter several major agencies, including the Department of Education, the FBI, the Nuclear Regulation Commission and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
He told supporters at the America First Policy Institute, “We will use executive authority to shut down the deep state,” per New York Times.
'Vivek's gonna instafire half of America's border patrol agents'
Vivek Ramaswamy's drastic claims generated a flurry of comments on the internet as people criticized his unrestrained decision.
One of the users said, "Day 1: take jobs away from millions of Americans Nice!"
Someone else asked, "Why not fire people based on merit instead of randomness."
Why not fire people based on merit instead of randomness
— Young Parik (@YoungParikPatel) November 12, 2023
Referring to the mega-antagonist of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thanos of 'Avengers: Infinity War' and "Avengers: Endgame', one of the netizens said, "You know Thanos is the bad guy right?"
Someone else quipped, "Vivek's gonna instafire half of America's border patrol agents and then wonder why his approval rating is 10% among Texas Republicans."
Vivek's gonna instafire half of America's border patrol agents and then wonder why his approval rating is 10% among Texas Republicans
— Swann Marcus (@SwannMarcus89) November 12, 2023
Another social media user said, "Voila, it is illegal and a violation of the First Amendment and HIPPA to know someone’s SSN without their consent. Delete this."
Voila, it is illegal and a violation of the First Amendment and HIPPA to know someone’s SSN without their consent.
— Three Year Letterman (@3YearLetterman) November 13, 2023
Delete this
"Vivek is a hedgefund guy who wants you to believe he is interested in public service so he can eliminate government from public life and in effect mount a private sector takeover of the country. He can’t say that. So he swaddles his ambition in talking points that pander to you," said someone else.
Vivek is a hedgefund guy who wants you to believe he is interested in public service so he can eliminate government from public life and in effect mount a private sector takeover of the country. He can’t say that. So he swaddles his ambition in talking points that pander to you
— Luke Zaleski (@ZaleskiLuke) November 13, 2023
"Bad idea. So random. Some agencies are understaffed. Wiping out half the VA for example would be fatal to a failing agency and would impact vets disproportionately," said another disgruntled social media user.
Bad idea. So random. Some agencies are understaffed. Wiping out half the VA for example would be fatal to a failing agency and would impact vets disproportionately
— D. A. Browne 🇺🇸 (@don5025) November 12, 2023
"I thought this was a joke. Lol. Someone take the power stone away from Vivek. You’re not even going to filter by some sort of meritocratic heuristic to keep high performers? Of course something will break," said someone else.
I thought this was a joke. Lol. Someone take the power stone away from Vivek.
— Oleg Kostour 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@OlegKostour) November 12, 2023
You’re not even going to filter by some sort of meritocratic heuristic to keep high performers? Of course something will break.
However, there were some people, who supported him and even gave him ideas to carry out on his task, "Start by getting rid of all the folks on Asministrative Leave, and then move on to collecting all the back taxes owed by Fed workers."
Start by getting rid of all the folks on Asministrative Leave, and then move on to collecting all the back taxes owed by Fed workers.
— ViennaJeff60 (@Viennajeff60) November 13, 2023
Vivek Ramaswamy alleged Donald Trump could not fuire bureaucrats becuase of 'civil service protections'
On another post dated November 13, the 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur took to his Twitter to allege that former President Donald Trump could not fire bureaucrats because of "civil service protections."
He wrote, "The #1 obstacle that stopped Trump from firing bureaucrats: civil service protections. He’d have faced millions of discrimination & political retribution claims - and be stuck in court forever."
He continued, "Here’s the solution: randomness. Non-discretionary firings are legally defensible & avoid civil service rules."
The #1 obstacle that stopped Trump from firing bureaucrats: civil service protections. He’d have faced millions of discrimination & political retribution claims - and be stuck in court forever. Here’s the solution: randomness. Non-discretionary firings are legally defensible &…
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 12, 2023
He reiterated his 50 percent policy and said, "Fire 50% of federal bureaucrats immediately using any neutral metric. Example: if your SSN ends in an odd number, you’re fired."
He even rationalized, "If that sounds too random, that’s exactly the point: no bureaucrat can allege their firing was discriminatory or politically retributive. This is how we can downsize government by 50% on Day 1 with 100% certainty of winning in court. Absolutely *nothing* will break as a result."
He again propagated his idea, "SHUT IT DOWN."