President Obama in a video message released Dec. 13. (White House) President Obama celebrated federal employees Tuesday in a video message that was at once pensive and optimistic as he urged them to forge ahead in divisive times. The Web video was shown to a group of employees meeting in the White House complex, where winners of the president’s Customer Service Awards were honored. Obama talked about the passion of federal employees, the difficulty of their work and how proud he is to be their colleague. “I’m excited to see what all of you do next,” he said after listing some of the many ways federal workers have served the public. One line in Obama’s three-minute talk could apply to Donald Trump’s acrimonious campaign, but the president, being the gentleman he is, did not refer directly to the president-elect. “It’s when our politics feels most divisive that we’re the most in need of people like you,” Obama said. “It’s times like now when we need people who show the rest of the country what it means when we say we are all Americans first.” For those who might have contemplated leaving in the wake of Trump’s victory, Obama urged them to stay in federal service. “Keep doing it,” he implored. “Your good work has never been more important.” Honored with the president’s 2016 Customer Service Awards were: — Frank Minnick, Department of Homeland Security — Jack Tran, Social Security Administration — Oliver Villalobos Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs — Taxpayer Assistance Center at the Treasury Department — Federal Employees Health Benefits Program tribal-desk team from the Office of Personnel Management — Bureau of Land Management Recreation Mapping Project team from the Interior Department The White House also released an “impact report,” a long list of federal employees’ accomplishments and messages from some of the winners. Here is the full text of Obama’s remarks: | 