Why this U.S. civil servant runs a rogue Twitter account against Trump

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As Trump marks 100 days in office, he's fighting resistance from a number of quarters, including the civil service.

There have been reports that civil servants are using encrypted messaging apps and personal email accounts to establish a network of dissent. When Trump brought in the so-called Muslim travel ban, more than 1,000 State Department diplomats registered their opposition by signing a dissent letter.

Rogue Twitter accounts from federal employees from various agencies have also cropped up. There are now at least 50 so-called "alternative" government Twitter accounts that say they are run by government staffers, tweeting out criticism of Trump and even leaked information. 

I'm doing it because the stakes are high. The issues that we care about ... are too important to stand down and be silent.- Civil servant on why he contributes to 'alternative' government Twitter accounts

The Current's host Anna Maria Tremonti spoke to one U.S. federal employee who contributes to one of these alternative government Twitter accounts. 

His work has to do with the environment and public health. 

The Current agreed not to use his name or location and to disguise his voice to protect his identity because he fears for his job.

"I'm doing it because the stakes are high. The issues that we care about and that we work on as part of our careers and that the American people care about are too important to stand down and be silent," he explains to Tremonti. 

"We have a president in the United States. We do not have a king. We do not have a dictator. And it's very important that the rule of law be respected and followed and that's the core part of why we do what we do."

We're dealing with an administration that seems to be very vindictive, thin-skinned and has very little tolerance for dissent which I would say is downright un-American.- Civil servant who openly criticizes Trump administration

He says he's worried about the damage that the Trump administration could do to the environment and public health.

"It's very clear that the new president, Mr. Trump, has put a target on the environment." 

He says he fears what would happen if he openly criticized the administration. 

"I don't feel like this [speaking anonymously] should even be necessary but unfortunately it is. We're dealing with an administration that seems to be very vindictive, thin-skinned and has very little tolerance for dissent which I would say is downright un-American," he tells Tremonti.

Civil disobedience or crime?

There are, however, many who think this kind of dissent in the civil service is troubling.

The conservative group Judicial Watch is  particularly concerned about federal employees sharing information through encrypted messaging apps.

It's suing the Environmental Protection Agency to get them to hand over any employee communications sent through these apps. 

"These federal bureaucrats promised to do their jobs and to implement the policies of the president, but they've decided to fight back in a way that undermines the rule of law and suggests the American peoples' will doesn't matter," says Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch president.

You would not run any business the way that he is running [government] right now.- Chris Lu

Chris Lu, the former deputy secretary of labor under former president Obama, says he's been in government for about 25 years and hasn't seen this level of dissent from the civil service.

During the campaign, Lu says, Trump promised he would be draining the swamp — and by the swamp, he not only meant the lobbyists, but also the federal civil servants.

"One of his first acts was a hiring freeze on new hiring in the federal government ... drastic budget cuts to federal agencies. He's appointed people to head these agencies who are opposed to the basic mission of the agencies." 

"What's striking to me is that this is a president who has extolled his virtues as a manager — as a business leader. You would not run any business the way that he is running [government] right now. "

The new president has created a level of culture which will ultimately undermine his ability to achieve his policy goals, says Lu.

"When you don't have the buy-in of civil servants, you're not tapping into their expertise and experience."

In many cases, these have been people who've been there for decades through Democrat and Republican administrations, says Lu.

"They know what works in agencies and what doesn't and if you really are serious about making government work more effectively you need to include them in the discussion. You need to hear their views on how government  can be improved."

Listen to the full segment at the top of this web post.

The Current's Washington special was produced by Howard Goldenthal, Willow Smith and Kathleen Goldhar.