President Biden is facing a fresh challenge as federal employees, organized under the banner of Feds United for Peace, plan to conduct a walkout across nearly two dozen agencies. According to an AL-Monitor report on January 15, 2024, this dissent is driven by frustration with the Biden administration’s handling of the Gaza conflict, and it is anticipated to involve hundreds of participants.
The group, operating anonymously, has named itself “Feds United for Peace” and is orchestrating a “Day of Mourning” to mark the 100th day of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Organizers express disappointment with the administration’s reluctance to call for an immediate cease-fire in the region.
The dissent is not confined to a specific government department, as individuals from 22 federal agencies, including the Executive Office of the President, the National Security Agency, and various departments, are committed to participating. The walkout reflects the growing discontent among U.S. officials regarding the administration’s stance on the Gaza conflict.
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Health officials in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, report over 23,000 deaths in three months, a substantial number being civilians. The United Nations estimates that approximately 85% of Gaza’s population, around 1.9 million Palestinians, have been displaced.
The organizers stress the atypical nature of their dissent, describing it as a “physical act” driven by a collective desire to influence the Biden administration’s Gaza policy. They emphasize a moral obligation and patriotic duty to effect change from within rather than resigning.
Internal disagreements on the Gaza policy have become public, with the State Department’s “dissent channel” receiving letters critical of the policy. Anonymous staffers from Biden’s re-election campaign have penned an open letter warning of potential voter backlash. Notably, two U.S. officials, including one overseeing arms transfers at the State Department, have publicly resigned in protest.
Organizers attribute their decision to stage a walkout to their determination to influence change, pointing to the White House’s alleged obstruction of cease-fire resolutions at the UN and bypassing Congress in arms sales to Israel. They contend that internal efforts, such as policy discussions and dissent cables, failed to bring about the desired policy shift, making the walkout a necessary option.
