When the "Deep State" Becomes Real
Eroding confidence in institutions is real, dangerous, and intentional - Why this matters.
Signed Originals Unsigned Open Edition Prints
In a recent conversation with New Yorker magazine’s journalist Jane Mayer on PBS’ award winning series “Frontline”, Mayer recounted a conversation with Attorney General Eric Holder in which she asked him about working with then-President Obama. Though Obama and Holder were close personal friends, Holder told her that they had a hard and fast rule that they would never speak with one another about current, ongoing cases before the DOJ. They were both in agreement that politics and justice in a free society must be separated by a “Maginot line” (my words) that assured justice, without fear or favor, for both the accused and the state.
Irrespective of who you voted for in the 2024 election, answer this question in your heart and mind:
Do you feel confident that the individuals serving at the highest level of the American justice system, and particularly, those who have been hired by them since the purges of DOGE, can be relied upon to act “without fear or favor” in the Epstein matter?
If someone you loved were accused of a crime, would you feel the same?
In just over six months, we are now witnessing what happens when the professional administration of agencies, “Administrative State” - to use a pejorative created to describe employees hired based on merit, is replaced by “good ol’ boys and (occasionally) gals” who respond to political pressure in their decision-making.
Prior to the DOGE era, employees enjoyed some carefully considered protections with their agency to both assure the professionalism of their work and to prevent partisan or ideological leanings from “polluting” their judgement. These changes were brought about, by both Republicans and Democrats, in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a way to reform “the Spoils System” where employees were hired based on party loyalty, without regard to expertise.
Those protections may or may not survive into the tenure of the new employees. Certainly, for the first year, they are non-existent because each employee is considered to be a “probationary” employee, who can be dismissed at will.
In an April column I made the observation that a nation of over 300 million people needed a “bureaucracy” no matter what term you used for it. After all, if you arrive at the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew your license and there are two “clerks” to attend to 100 people it won’t be long before you have a justifiably irate group of citizens.
Now imagine if the DMV list has citizens classified 1-4. Let’s say 1 and 2 indicate the political party of the driver. 3 indicates that they are not an active voter and 4 indicates that they never vote. Well, you can pretty much forget the #4 folks. They can’t hurt you after all - as long as we still have elections, of course. The temptation to advantage your “side” would be pretty overwhelming for a harried and overworked employee.
A simple way to look at the bureaucracy is to compare it with other forms of infrastructure, after all, it’s just the personnel infrastructure that keeps the trains running on time.
Now think of the changes to our personnel infrastructure since DOGE.
Did you ever see a justice department or ICE agent hide behind a black mask with no badge or identification before January of 2024?
Last week a US Attorney in New Jersey, serving a probationary 120-day period - because she did not have the votes in the Senate to confirm her for the entire 4 years, was rejected by the entire panel of judges needed to confirm her after her probation - unanimously. Instead, they confirmed another Assistant US Attorney. President Trump promptly fired their choice and “installed” their rejected US Attorney. Now a confusing, nasty and, brutish court battle will be required to assure that NJ Citizens have a US Attorney.
At the top of the pyramid, of course, is Attorney General Pam Bondi. The same person who ignored more than 200 civil suits filed against Epstein for trafficing when she was AG in Florida, then promised us all “full transparency” on the Epstein files before turning around and telling us there was “nothing to see here” after discovering that her “boss” was all over the files.
Now ask yourself how that applies to every other institution of government today.
The list is too long . . . here’s just a few of the most recent examples.
In June 2025, RFK Jr. dismissed the entire 17-member CDC vaccine advisory panel, replacing them with individuals described as vaccine skeptics. This move caused alarm among public health advocates who worry about its potential impact on vaccine accessibility and recommendations. All this as a new outbreak of measles threatens the US current
On Friday, July 25, 2025 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to eliminate its scientific research arm and fire hundreds of chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and other scientists.
Likewise FEMA has announced plans to stop providing assistance to communities hit by devastating floods, hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters.
The Supreme Court has just given President Donald Trump the go-ahead to oust the Democratic members of an important federal regulatory board, The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which establishes safety standards for more than 15,000 products sold to Americans. despite longstanding laws that seek to insulate the regulators from politically motivated firings.
More than one hundred lawsuits have been filed related to DOGE’s firings and of those disposed, more than 90% of decisions have run against the Trump administration. However, the damage is done. Some may never be undone. Many will take generations to unwind.
The Woodworkers Hands
Washday in the Tall Tower
Winter's Thrust Haiku
Signed Originals
Pathway to the Crown
Windows at an Exhibition
Notes & Links
Trading One Deep State for Another
Anamaki Chronicles is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.