Operation Bust Status Quo

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Sarah Sweeney
April 7, 2025

Recently I came upon a press release from the Department of Justice that reports a Country wide deployment of FBI agents to field offices engaged in Operation Not Forgotten, and I was pleasantly surprised to read that efforts are being made to pursue justice in the face of so much hatred in society today. The story cites crime data involving widespread victimization and resulting investigations, recoveries and criminal indictments. This release sent me down a rabbit hole of internet searching to discover how mimicking a militaristic operation can be useful in bolstering support for ongoing threats to human safety. By creating initiatives like this one, the field of public administration can better develop a pathway toward equity, inclusion and collaboration between all levels of government to ensure we are meeting the needs of the many, not just the few. It is our duty as leaders to protect the best interests of our communities and live up to the responsibility and trust that has been built over time. It is vital we include the voices and experiences of those impacted, so we can ensure the outcomes match the need.

In the practice of public administration, utilizing organized approaches such as an Operation, can go a long way in sustaining or rebuilding communities impacted by crime, violence or other disruptions that lead to social dissolve. By utilizing basic fundamentals of organizational or change management, we can achieve common goals that support and engage our constituents. An important first step is to define the objectives of our project: what is it that we want to change or improve, what are we needing to accomplish. Secondly, we assign responsibilities and duties to those engaged in the process or workgroup. Hopefully this would involve a volunteer based practice, however we cannot shy away from having to voluntell those around us to step up and move forward. A technique that I sometimes struggle with, is delegating authority or responsibility to those around me, and therefore something I will share is increasingly important to practice. Creating social change cannot be done in a vacuum, and certainly not by one person alone, so by generating a hive mind; partnering with those more versed in processes or action, we delegate to their strengths. Regularly throughout the change process we must reflect and reorganize, all the while coordinating efforts with the service providers or community members most impacted by any changes we intend to make. The rollout process should never come as a surprise and the steps in how we got there should be transparent and authentically aligned with the needs and priorities of our community.

As I suggest in the title, Operation Bust Status Quo, we are responsible as public administrators to push through the laissez faire style attitude that has become our social construct. We cannot keep doing things the way we always have, nor should we wait and see what will trickle down from above when making recommendations for policy or practice. It is our duty to shake things up and get creative with how we approach delicate matters and how we can advocate for what our communities need. I listen to what’s important for my teams and community to be effective, and hear housing, behavioral health, financial security, public safety at the top of many lists. As one person, there is no realistic path forward in my attaining these alone, however through the partnership and organized process of building an operation, we can achieve this together. Advocacy, research, soliciting support and guidance from stakeholders, understanding root causes and solutions, maximizing financial and human capital, and publicity, will be key tasks to undertake in any movement. Each community will have basic needs for resources and their valued importance will vary from topic to topic, which is why we need to understand what is necessary to push forward when standing at the podium. In order to resolve a situation in our favor it is important we coordinate the actions of all members and we cannot do this without first gathering intel on where things went wrong. Thus, understanding the objectives of the operation and delegating responsibilities and authority where it makes the most sense to do so. Time is always of the essence when looking to leave your mark on the community you serve.

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Author: Sarah Sweeney is a professional social worker and public administrator in Washington State.  She may be contacted at [email protected] 

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