February 14, 2023
Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) applauds the introduction of the Saving the Civil Service Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with a companion bill in the Senate introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). The legislation seeks to safeguard the civil service from political manipulation and to protect the merit systems principles of the federal workforce.
“NFFE strongly supports the Saving the Civil Service Act,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin “This bipartisan legislation will protect the merit system principles of the federal workforce by preventing a U.S. president from requiring political loyalty from the apolitical career ranks of federal civil service. Federal labor, executives, and professional associations all agree with political appointees from former Democratic and Republican administrations that this bill is critical to ensuring the government remains in the hands of the American people and not some political despot, even if that despot is a president.”
Continuing similar efforts from the previous Congress, the Saving the Civil Service Act was reintroduced in response to the establishment of Schedule F during the last presidential administration, a new classification of political employee that can be hired into permanent positions without regard to existing laws governing federal employment and accountability. The bill safeguards existing statutory and constitutional systematic protections to ensure transparency and accountability within the federal government. It blocks involuntary reassignments of career employees into political positions and prevents the hiring of dark political appointees into the ranks of government undetected.
“Every member of Congress must choose: You either support transparency and accountability through this bill or you support rogue political operatives who covertly run private agendas while on the Taxpayer’s dime. You cannot have it both ways,” continued Erwin. “Thank you to Senator Kaine and Representatives Connolly and Fitzpatrick for their efforts in protecting the civil service from political corruption. I look forward to working with them and both chambers of Congress to ensure this critical legislation is signed into law.”