The Biden administration has finalized a new rule aimed at protecting career federal workers from political interference, which could prevent any potential efforts by former President Trump to alter or reduce the federal workforce if he were to win the election in November. President Biden emphasized that the rule, first proposed in September, is a step towards combating corruption and partisan interference in the civil service. This move is seen as a preemptive measure to prevent a president from undermining the federal civil service, as Trump had attempted to do during his final days in office.
Trump had signed an executive order before the 2020 election that gave him and his agency appointees more flexibility in hiring and firing federal employees considered disloyal. This move was criticized for politicizing the civil service and potentially leading to career officials being ousted for political reasons. Trump’s executive order created a new classification for federal employees called “Schedule F,” which was reversed by Biden during his first week in office. The finalized rule on Thursday aims to safeguard federal employees from political firings, ensuring that they are hired based on merit and expertise, rather than political affiliations.
The rule clarifies existing protections for career civil servants, making it clear that their rights cannot be taken away unless willingly surrendered. It also makes it more difficult to shift jobs into a status where these protections could be removed. The impact of this rule is widespread, impacting federal workers across various agencies, including US Customs and Border Protection and the US Postal Service. The goal is to create an independent federal workforce that is not influenced by individual political agendas.
The Biden administration official stated that the rule would not be easily rolled back in the event of a potential second term for Trump. Trump had promised to reinstate his Schedule F executive order on day one if reelected, but the official explained that a new administration would have to go through a regulatory process to justify any changes, potentially leading to legal challenges. While the rule could slow down future administration efforts, it could ultimately be reversed, prompting calls for further legislative action to solidify protections for civil servants.
Representative Gerry Connolly praised the rule but emphasized that more action is needed to prevent a politicized civil service. He introduced legislation last year aimed at further protecting federal workers, but the divided Congress makes it unlikely for such legislation to pass. Unions representing federal workers, such as the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union, welcomed the finalized regulation as a step towards maintaining the stability and professionalism of the government workforce. They highlighted the importance of preserving civil service rights and protections to prevent political interference in federal agencies.
