It starts with across the board tariffs, then an industry goes to him and says this hurts us, so here is a donation to one of your PACs, or we’ll buy some of your crypto coin and you give us an exemption. And lo and behold a reason is found to not have a tariff on that product or just for that company.

You state “Getting certs is part of what is required for me to get bigger raises and get promoted and all that jazz.” So this is not a required part of your CURRENT position. If you want a better position, you will need to invest in yourself, using some of your own time. Sounds like the employer is already paying for the courses and tests, the rest is now up to you.

Do not go in to your meeting with a bad attitude, you will just piss off your boss. Accept that if you want a promotion and higher pay that you are going to have to give up some personal time to get there. Remember, they’ve already given you time, and you failed, multiple times from what you wrote, so now it is time for you to hunker down and do it on your own time.