It should not be this hard to serve your country.

That’s what deposed Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin David Jonathon ShulkinVA inspector general says former top official steered M contract to friend Schumer demands answers in use of unproven coronavirus drug on veterans Former Trump VA secretary says staffer found plans to replace him in department copier MORE told the country as he followed a train of dedicated public servants out the door for apparently less-than-enthusiastic endorsements of the impetuous and vindictive management style of President Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE.

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In perhaps his last turn on the national stage, Shulkin blamed his ouster on wrongheaded efforts to privatize the VA to reward a few at the expense of undermining care for millions veterans, and vowed to stay committed to resist privatization.

He joins FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE, fired for failing to pledge his loyalty to Trump and refusing to drop his investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn while investigating Trump’s campaign’s ties to Russia; Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe Andrew George McCabeGraham: Comey to testify about FBI's Russia probe, Mueller declined invitation Barr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' GOP votes to authorize subpoenas, depositions in Obama-era probe MORE, fired hours before he became eligible for a pension in retaliation for being willing to provide corroborating evidence that Comey’s firing was an effort to obstruct justice; and H.R. McMaster, who preferred professionals to walk-on amateurs with seeming conflicts of interest in matters of national security.

Others have simply quit, overwhelmed by the chaos and incompetence of a man who declines expert advice in favor of telegenic talking heads. Place in that category Joseph Yun, the State Department’s special representative for North Korea policy, who leaves in apparent frustration on the eve of talks between Trump and the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and Walter Shaub Walter Michael ShaubTrump breaks with precedent on second night of convention Democratic senators call for ethics review into Ivanka Trump's Goya tweet Chris Cuomo blasts Trump over photo with Goya products: 'In the middle of a pandemic, they're selling beans' MORE, director of the Office of Government Ethics, who was critical of the president’s failure to meet the ethical standards, including divestiture of his private assets, of his predecessors.

White House Communications Director Hope Hicks Hope Charlotte HicksSenate intel leaders said Trump associates may have presented misleading testimony during Russia probe: report Cuomo turned down Trump invitation to participate in April press briefing: report Trump shakes up White House communications team MORE resigned a day after testifying – and acknowledging “white lies” on Trump’s behalf – before the House Intelligence Committee. White House press secretary Sean Spicer Sean Michael SpicerKellyanne Conway to leave White House at end of month Pro-Trump duo Diamond and Silk launch new program on Newsmax TV The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Supreme Court's unanimous decision on the Electoral College MORE, who seemed uncomfortable from Day One with misleading statements about Trump’s inaugural crowd size, finally stepped down after a remarkable and humiliating stream of exaggerations and falsehoods.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE fell afoul of Trump for disparaging him in private and not deigning to correct the record but also for saying the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain was “clearly” Russia’s doing; for that, he was tweeted out the next day.

Trump’s top economic advisor Gary Cohn Gary David CohnGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Former national economic council director: I agree with 50 percent of House Democrats' HEROES Act MORE, one of the few professionals in what Sen. Bob Corker Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (R-Tenn.) called the West Wing “adult day care center,” acknowledged he was under “enormous pressure” to resign in the wake of Trump’s offensive statements about the “very fine” neo-Nazis who marched through Charlottesville last summer, but ultimately stepped down when his advice on tariff policy was not just ignored but mocked.

High-profile outright firings include former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara Preetinder (Preet) Singh BhararaDemocratic attorneys criticize House Judiciary Democrats' questioning of Barr Clyburn echoes calls to rename Pettus bridge Support swells for renaming Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma to honor John Lewis after his death MORE, who Trump had promised his job, and former “Apprentice” contestant Omarosa Manigault for – don’t ask.

Long-suffering Reince Priebus Reinhold (Reince) Richard PriebusLeaked audio shows Trump touted low Black voter turnout in 2016: report Meadows joins White House facing reelection challenges Trump names Mark Meadows as new chief of staff MORE tried to keep the lid on a boiling-over caldron of scandals and embarrassments but finally got the boot in a Trump tweet from Air Force One announcing his successor as Priebus sat on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base in the rain.

The many names of those standing on banana peels waiting for a shove include the badgered architect of our renewed war on marijuana and voting rights, Attorney General Jefferson Beauregard Sessions, and his deputy, Rod J. Rosenstein, both still standing between Trump and his nemesis, the Special Counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE.

Oh, yes: Robert Mueller, a Republican appointed FBI director by presidents of both parties, has been a potential target since at least last June. He has indicted 19 so far and is subpoenaing Trump business records, a Trump “red line.” More than 160 of us in Congress are trying to get a vote on the bipartisan Special Counsel Integrity Act that sets conditions for such firings – before Mueller’s name is added to this list.

The evident pleasure the man in the White House gets from such firings and force-outs is legendary; he first made a name for himself beyond the tabloids with his inane reality television show slogan, “you’re fired.” He now denigrates dedicated public servants with the same sadistic flourish.

It really should not be this hard to serve your country.