The alternative helps to highlight the importance of staying on. This moment would be precisely the worst one to have our government emptied of experience and expertise and filled, much more than usual, with political appointees.

Staying on does not equal unquestionably following every directive from Washington – far from it. As Ross wrote, “If a Trump presidency lurches into naked authoritarianism — abusing executive authority in unprecedented ways, issuing immoral or illegal orders to the military — then there will be an obligation not to serve, but to resign.”

For now, however, the country needs its federal employees more than ever.