They Grew Up Serving America. MAGA Regards Them as Adversaries.
The newest targets of Trump seem to symbolize the struggles of the capital.
TroibNews 
Michael Abramowitz and James Boasberg, friends since their days at the prestigious prep school Saint Albans, both hail from notable Washington families. Their classmates included future political figures like Sen. Michael Bennet and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, along with the sons of various Washington dignitaries, such as Jesse Jackson and G. Gordon Liddy.
After attending Harvard and Yale, the pair pursued careers that their upbringing encouraged. One delved into journalism while the other entered law, ultimately finding their way into public service.
This week, a peculiar turn of fate finds them embroiled in separate controversies linked to the Trump administration: Abramowitz as the director of Voice of America who has been placed on administrative leave, and Boasberg as the judge at the center of a heated legal battle regarding the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, sparking fierce reactions from the presidency.
Their coinciding situations have become a metaphor for a broader sentiment shared within Washington: many feel a class struggle is underway against institutions and professions that embody the traditional bipartisan values of the city, now perceived as self-serving by the MAGA constituency.
The targets of the Trump administration's campaigns often include institutions highly regarded in elite Washington, such as law firms, media organizations, cultural establishments, nonprofits, prestigious universities, advocacy groups, and, notably, public service.
Both Abramowitz and Boasberg's life stories embody these categories, tracing back to two quintessential 20th-century Washington family legacies. Boasberg's father came to Washington to work on Lyndon Johnson's Great Society initiatives and became a prominent historic-preservation lawyer, while his mother advocated for the city's green spaces as a landscape architect. Abramowitz's father held significant diplomatic roles during the Cold War and led the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, while his mother was a notable refugee advocate who opened the Washington office of the International Rescue Committee.
Both have achieved noteworthy success through dedication to institutional roles characterized by public interest and community service rather than individual gain. Boasberg has held positions as a federal prosecutor and judge, currently serving as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for D.C. Abramowitz spent years at the Washington Post before his leadership at the Holocaust Museum and Freedom House, advocating for global democracy and human rights.
In typical Washington fashion, both men have maintained bipartisan records throughout their careers. Boasberg, a Yale Law housemate of future Trump Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was nominated to D.C. Superior Court by George W. Bush and to the federal bench by Barack Obama. Abramowitz's work at both the Holocaust Museum and Freedom House involved collaboration with boards comprising conservatives and liberals, leading to recognition of his human rights efforts even drawing sanctions from Russia and China. “It’s not partisan, it’s American,” said George W. Bush Institute Executive Director David Kramer of this work.
“They were raised to serve,” noted Tom Liddy, a Saint Albans classmate and close friend of both men. After his education, Liddy joined the Marines, ran as a Republican, and hosted a conservative radio show; he’s now a county attorney in Arizona. “They’re not here to advance right, left or center. They could have done anything, and they chose to serve.”
However, this week, both men have found themselves under fire from the MAGA movement, facing accusations of malfeasance. Following Abramowitz's announcement of his leave along with over 1,300 staff members at Voice of America, Trump ally Kari Lake alleged, without evidence, that the agency was harboring corrupt practices and “spies and terrorist sympathizers.” At the same time, Boasberg faced condemnation from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who claimed he favored “Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans.”
On Tuesday, Trump incited a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts after labeling Boasberg “a radical left lunatic of a judge” who should be impeached.
While much of the backlash stems from employment issues rather than personal histories, it contributes to a prevailing atmosphere of angst among Washington's elite.
“People are aggrieved by all of the trouble that has been brought down on their careers, but they are heartsick that they are being defamed as corrupt or freeloaders or partisan hacks,” expressed U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, reflecting on the sentiments of his public servant constituents in the D.C. suburbs. “That’s the opposite of everything that these people believe in and the opposite of everything they’ve been doing with their careers.”
Numerous examples of beleaguered institutions can be found in the current political climate, revealing a broader trend of attacks on Washington's establishments. The same executive order that affected Voice of America also targeted the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a respected think tank with a history of leadership from Washington luminaries like former U.S. Rep. Jane Harman.
The controversy surrounding Boasberg's ruling arose just before the annual Gridiron Dinner, another staple of bipartisan Washington that has faced skepticism regarding its future relevance amid Trump ally boycotts.
Perkins Coie, a law firm with a liberal reputation but rooted in the historically bipartisan field of political law, was also caught in the crosshairs of a recent executive order, leading the firm to file legal action against restrictions that would prevent its employees from holding federal positions. This targeting has left many in the legal profession, which employs numerous influential figures in the area, feeling unsettled.
In a notable recent event, Trump visited the Kennedy Center, making headlines after he removed board chair David Rubenstein, a prominent philanthropist associated with gifts to the Smithsonian and National Mall.
While these disruptions upset long-time D.C. residents, they likely serve to bolster Trump’s support in the political arena.
In today's climate, CVs like those of Abramowitz and Boasberg are more likely to be dismissed by the MAGA right as examples of deep-state betrayal rather than celebrated for their contributions to public service. In the larger context, there's little public sympathy for insiders nurtured in the elite environments of D.C., let alone for entities like law firms, think tanks, or traditional journalist associations that engage in high-profile social events.
“Do you think the American public will say, ‘Oh, I hope they will give due process to Venezuelan gang members?’” asked Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and ex-Bush administration staffer who is skeptical of Washington's self-perception. Emphasizing legal processes represents another trait of the Beltway that doesn’t resonate well in a populist context. The lack of public support for recent protests advocating for foreign affairs programs like VOA further illustrates the difficulty in promoting such causes, regardless of their merit.
Observing the situation, those opposing Trump may find it politically advantageous to focus their efforts on advocating for less recognized individuals affected by these actions, such as junior employees grappling with financial burdens or mid-level workers facing unwelcome communications from younger tech representatives.
Even those outside the MAGA base might feel it’s about time to scrutinize a purported war against Washington’s esteemed professions.
Despite criticism of its well-to-do rituals, it is essential to preserve a culture that encourages youth to consider how they can contribute to their country. We should be able to have thoughtful discussions about judicial decisions or government broadcasts without tarnishing the reputations of those dedicated to their vocations. The current turmoil is as much about the perception of dishonor and malevolence surrounding public service as it is about dismantling the careers of those involved.
“There’s an old saying: ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’” Liddy remarked. “That’s the way their parents raised them. From the time you wake up at Saint Albans to the time you go to bed at night, you’re told you are in a privileged position and much is expected of you.”
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
After attending Harvard and Yale, the pair pursued careers that their upbringing encouraged. One delved into journalism while the other entered law, ultimately finding their way into public service.
This week, a peculiar turn of fate finds them embroiled in separate controversies linked to the Trump administration: Abramowitz as the director of Voice of America who has been placed on administrative leave, and Boasberg as the judge at the center of a heated legal battle regarding the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, sparking fierce reactions from the presidency.
Their coinciding situations have become a metaphor for a broader sentiment shared within Washington: many feel a class struggle is underway against institutions and professions that embody the traditional bipartisan values of the city, now perceived as self-serving by the MAGA constituency.
The targets of the Trump administration's campaigns often include institutions highly regarded in elite Washington, such as law firms, media organizations, cultural establishments, nonprofits, prestigious universities, advocacy groups, and, notably, public service.
Both Abramowitz and Boasberg's life stories embody these categories, tracing back to two quintessential 20th-century Washington family legacies. Boasberg's father came to Washington to work on Lyndon Johnson's Great Society initiatives and became a prominent historic-preservation lawyer, while his mother advocated for the city's green spaces as a landscape architect. Abramowitz's father held significant diplomatic roles during the Cold War and led the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, while his mother was a notable refugee advocate who opened the Washington office of the International Rescue Committee.
Both have achieved noteworthy success through dedication to institutional roles characterized by public interest and community service rather than individual gain. Boasberg has held positions as a federal prosecutor and judge, currently serving as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for D.C. Abramowitz spent years at the Washington Post before his leadership at the Holocaust Museum and Freedom House, advocating for global democracy and human rights.
In typical Washington fashion, both men have maintained bipartisan records throughout their careers. Boasberg, a Yale Law housemate of future Trump Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, was nominated to D.C. Superior Court by George W. Bush and to the federal bench by Barack Obama. Abramowitz's work at both the Holocaust Museum and Freedom House involved collaboration with boards comprising conservatives and liberals, leading to recognition of his human rights efforts even drawing sanctions from Russia and China. “It’s not partisan, it’s American,” said George W. Bush Institute Executive Director David Kramer of this work.
“They were raised to serve,” noted Tom Liddy, a Saint Albans classmate and close friend of both men. After his education, Liddy joined the Marines, ran as a Republican, and hosted a conservative radio show; he’s now a county attorney in Arizona. “They’re not here to advance right, left or center. They could have done anything, and they chose to serve.”
However, this week, both men have found themselves under fire from the MAGA movement, facing accusations of malfeasance. Following Abramowitz's announcement of his leave along with over 1,300 staff members at Voice of America, Trump ally Kari Lake alleged, without evidence, that the agency was harboring corrupt practices and “spies and terrorist sympathizers.” At the same time, Boasberg faced condemnation from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who claimed he favored “Tren de Aragua terrorists over the safety of Americans.”
On Tuesday, Trump incited a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts after labeling Boasberg “a radical left lunatic of a judge” who should be impeached.
While much of the backlash stems from employment issues rather than personal histories, it contributes to a prevailing atmosphere of angst among Washington's elite.
“People are aggrieved by all of the trouble that has been brought down on their careers, but they are heartsick that they are being defamed as corrupt or freeloaders or partisan hacks,” expressed U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, reflecting on the sentiments of his public servant constituents in the D.C. suburbs. “That’s the opposite of everything that these people believe in and the opposite of everything they’ve been doing with their careers.”
Numerous examples of beleaguered institutions can be found in the current political climate, revealing a broader trend of attacks on Washington's establishments. The same executive order that affected Voice of America also targeted the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a respected think tank with a history of leadership from Washington luminaries like former U.S. Rep. Jane Harman.
The controversy surrounding Boasberg's ruling arose just before the annual Gridiron Dinner, another staple of bipartisan Washington that has faced skepticism regarding its future relevance amid Trump ally boycotts.
Perkins Coie, a law firm with a liberal reputation but rooted in the historically bipartisan field of political law, was also caught in the crosshairs of a recent executive order, leading the firm to file legal action against restrictions that would prevent its employees from holding federal positions. This targeting has left many in the legal profession, which employs numerous influential figures in the area, feeling unsettled.
In a notable recent event, Trump visited the Kennedy Center, making headlines after he removed board chair David Rubenstein, a prominent philanthropist associated with gifts to the Smithsonian and National Mall.
While these disruptions upset long-time D.C. residents, they likely serve to bolster Trump’s support in the political arena.
In today's climate, CVs like those of Abramowitz and Boasberg are more likely to be dismissed by the MAGA right as examples of deep-state betrayal rather than celebrated for their contributions to public service. In the larger context, there's little public sympathy for insiders nurtured in the elite environments of D.C., let alone for entities like law firms, think tanks, or traditional journalist associations that engage in high-profile social events.
“Do you think the American public will say, ‘Oh, I hope they will give due process to Venezuelan gang members?’” asked Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and ex-Bush administration staffer who is skeptical of Washington's self-perception. Emphasizing legal processes represents another trait of the Beltway that doesn’t resonate well in a populist context. The lack of public support for recent protests advocating for foreign affairs programs like VOA further illustrates the difficulty in promoting such causes, regardless of their merit.
Observing the situation, those opposing Trump may find it politically advantageous to focus their efforts on advocating for less recognized individuals affected by these actions, such as junior employees grappling with financial burdens or mid-level workers facing unwelcome communications from younger tech representatives.
Even those outside the MAGA base might feel it’s about time to scrutinize a purported war against Washington’s esteemed professions.
Despite criticism of its well-to-do rituals, it is essential to preserve a culture that encourages youth to consider how they can contribute to their country. We should be able to have thoughtful discussions about judicial decisions or government broadcasts without tarnishing the reputations of those dedicated to their vocations. The current turmoil is as much about the perception of dishonor and malevolence surrounding public service as it is about dismantling the careers of those involved.
“There’s an old saying: ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’” Liddy remarked. “That’s the way their parents raised them. From the time you wake up at Saint Albans to the time you go to bed at night, you’re told you are in a privileged position and much is expected of you.”
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
