Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) isn’t holding back. The California Republican has blasted Secretary of State Antony Blinken over allegations that the U.S. State Department hosted therapy sessions for employees struggling to cope with Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory.
In a sharply worded letter obtained by the *Washington Free Beacon*, Issa expressed outrage that federal resources might be used to console bureaucrats allegedly shaken by Trump’s return to the White House. “I am concerned that the Department is catering to federal employees who are personally devastated by the normal functioning of American democracy,” Issa wrote, targeting what he called government-funded “mental health counseling” for those mourning Vice President Kamala Harris’s defeat.
The controversy stems from an internal email offering a webinar on stress management, which stated, “Change is a constant in our lives, but it can often bring about stress and uncertainty.” While the email did not explicitly mention Trump or the election, critics allege it was a veiled response to the outcome.
The *Free Beacon* further reported that the Department hosted “cry sessions” for employees grappling with the election results. Issa wasn’t amused. “It is disturbing that ostensibly nonpartisan government officials would suffer a personal meltdown over the results of a free and fair election—something the United States champions around the world,” he noted in his letter.
Issa also took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out what he sees as an absurd misuse of taxpayer funds. “The State Department is using taxpayer funds to provide post-election therapy sessions for employees. End this,” he posted.
The reaction from the public was swift and scathing. One commenter summed up the sentiment: “I can’t imagine an employee coming to me and saying they can’t function because [Kamala Harris] lost an election or because [Donald Trump] won. I would blink a couple of times and say sorry, but you will need to get back to work and deal with it on your own time.”
Another user took a jab at the emotional fragility of some employees, suggesting Trump offer a practical solution: “We’d like a list of names who are suffering. We’ll let them go to end their misery. Not to worry, they can learn coding.”
Critics argue that the apparent emotional turmoil within the State Department raises concerns about its ability to function effectively. One commenter quipped, “If these so-called open-minded people can’t stand the results of an election in our country, how in this world on this planet are they going to deal with anyone wanting to not deal with them?”
Others drew on past frustrations with the Department’s inefficiencies. Iraq War veteran John Wheeler remarked, “Nice to see the State Department hasn’t changed. Still waiting on that ‘civilian surge’ I was promised in Iraq.”
For Issa, the issue goes beyond individual feelings—it’s about the integrity of a key federal agency. As he concluded in his letter, using government funds for therapy sessions tied to election results is “inappropriate and unacceptable.”
With the spotlight now on the State Department, taxpayers are left wondering: why are their hard-earned dollars funding handholding for bureaucrats who should be focused on advancing America’s interests? If Issa has his way, this indulgent practice will be swiftly ended, restoring a sense of accountability to Washington.
