Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) blocked a Democratic-led effort to pass the Saving the Civil Service Act, which seeks to protect federal workers from reclassification as political appointees. The bill, proposed by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), would require Congressional approval to reclassify federal positions outside the merit-based system, aiming to prevent political retaliation and ensure impartial federal law implementation.
Schmitt opposed the measure, citing concerns about Washington’s “administrative state” and aligning with President-elect Trump’s push for government efficiency. Trump previously endorsed “Schedule F” reforms, enabling agencies to strip policymaking positions of civil service protections, making employees easier to hire and fire. Although Biden repealed the executive order in 2021, Democrats worry Trump could reintroduce it, potentially affecting up to 50,000 federal workers.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) argued the reforms would erode the merit-based civil service established in 1883, replacing skilled employees with political appointees and increasing corruption risks. They emphasized that Trump retains authority to appoint 4,000 political positions under current law but warned against expanding this power to thousands more federal jobs.
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