President Biden's administration has announced a new rule aimed at protecting federal workers from political interference and making it more challenging to dismiss them. This move comes in response to former President Trump's efforts to overhaul the federal workforce to eliminate what he referred to as the 'deep state.'
The White House released a statement from President Biden emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the 2.2 million career civil servants from partisan influence. Biden highlighted the critical role these professionals play in providing essential services to the American people and ensuring the smooth functioning of democracy.
The new regulations, implemented by the Office of Personnel Management, prevent career civil servants from being reclassified as political appointees or other at-will workers, who can be easily terminated from their positions. This rule counters Trump's previous executive order, known as Schedule F, which aimed to reclassify federal employees and reduce their job security protections.
The National Treasury Employee Union obtained documents suggesting that a broad range of federal workers, including office managers and specialists in various fields, could have been affected by Trump's order. The Biden administration's rule establishes procedural requirements for reclassifying federal employees and reinforces the protections accrued by civil servants, regardless of their job type.
Good government groups and liberal activists have praised the new rule, viewing it as a crucial step in preserving federal worker protections. Conversely, conservative organizations, such as the Heritage Foundation, have advocated for replacing existing government employees with more conservative alternatives to combat what they perceive as a 'deep state' bureaucracy.
The 237-page rule is set to take effect next month after receiving public feedback and addressing concerns raised by various stakeholders. While a potential second term for Trump could lead to new regulations, the process would involve detailed explanations and could face legal challenges from opponents.
