You're fired!

Buddy was good at comforting. I wish he were still with us.

In the eighties and nineties, I spent my days - and many a night - trying to turn around failing companies. These were venture capitalists’ disappointments - the service that didn’t catch on, the invention in the wrong distribution channel, the wrong management or an inefficient workforce. When I’d arrive as CEO, these companies usually had only enough in the bank for a few month’s payroll and no prospects of raising more capital.

I remember painful hours walking around laying off some of the programmers, engineers, immunochemists, and support staff. When I walked into a department soon after arriving at the company, the fear was palpable.

But well before an employee was dismissed, we had other meetings to make tough but carefully thought-out decisions. The management team decided how that person’s functions could be continued - or safely abandoned. We considered how to reassign efficient employees to important ongoing roles. (In a few cases we even tried to consider an employee’s personal circumstances.) And of course, we analysed what the company’s cash flow would look like after the reductions - would we have the lower costs and stable revenues we needed?

The bottom line is this: in both business and government, cutting jobs may reduce costs temporarily, but without a plan, the fallout can be disastrous—disrupting operations, alienating customers, and ultimately costing far more than it saves. To prevent this, leadership must ensure that any restructuring strengthens the organization rather than weakens it. If downsizing is necessary, can roles be repurposed? Can efficiency be improved without sacrificing essential services?

For that to happen, management needs a well-thought-out plan.

The US government’s turnaround plan

We’ve seen what happens when leadership prioritizes drastic cuts over careful planning. Take Elon Musk’s handling of Twitter, now X. When he fired 80% of the workforce—roughly 6,000 employees—the platform quickly lost value, with reports estimating a 70-80% drop. Services suffered, users fled, and advertisers pulled out. The result? A once-thriving platform turned into a shell of its former self.

Now, Trump is applying the same reckless strategy to the U.S. government. Even if some federal agencies could benefit from greater efficiency, mass firings without a transition plan don’t cut "waste, fraud, and abuse"—they just cut services. Many of those being targeted provide critical support to Americans, from environmental protections to disaster relief.

What about the customers?

I think if someone had come in and fired 20% of my employees randomly, then said to me “There you go, now carry on,” the most likely person to have done that would be an enemy. A competitor seeking to end our viability, to get our products out of the market. The investors lose big, of course, and employees take it on the chin. But the people most likely to be seriously hurt are often the customers. Our demise hurts their business.

The same is true for government agencies. When federal programs are gutted overnight, American citizens—not politicians—bear the consequences. Businesses relying on government support, local communities benefiting from federal programs, and families depending on public services all feel the impact.

We’re the customers. What can we do?

Take climate protections as an example. Up until recently, the Inflation Reduction Act provided funding for projects aimed at flood control, wildfire prevention, clean transportation, and lower-cost heating and cooling. These initiatives weren’t just about policy; they directly improved lives, lowered energy costs, and helped safeguard our communities. Now, many of those projects are being defunded or delayed. If we do nothing, future generations will pay the price.

We have two ways of pushing for these services to be reinstated.

Method 1 In Washington we can hope to influence the Administration as individuals, and through our political and non-profit group protests. We must keep trying this, but our messages to federal politicians and administrators go through red/blue filters. Those that are seen to have a blue tinge are ignored.

Method 2 This is where we have real power - the power of consumers. By focusing on our local communities, we can rally people who might not usually engage in political activism—MAGA neighbors, independent voters, and even those who simply care about their families’ well-being. Local governments also have more direct lines to federal agencies, meaning pressure at this level can be more effective.

What should we complain about losing? It’s not hard to identify specific projects near us which are threatened.

1. Find out what’s at risk - Search online for ”Inflation Reduction Act funding projects [Our County]”.

2. Identify a project – Look for one that matters to our community

3. Contact the fund recipient – Ask if they’ve received their promised funding. If not, find out what’s being delayed or canceled.

4. Mobilize our community – Talk to local officials, write to newspapers, and organize local discussions.

5. Spread the message – The more people understand what’s being lost, the harder it is for Washington to ignore.

I know. I know. It’s a lot of work. But given the widespread climate denial in Washington and the tragedies ahead if we can’t help our government see the climate future, we now need to actively join the fight.

What are we going to say when our children and grandchildren ask, “Back when Trump came in and killed all those climate protections, what did you do?”

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I apologize for so much of me in this screed. What’s happening in Washington has started some memories boiling up.