Trump at-will federal workers: Senate GOP pushes bill to strip job protections
- The proposed legislation, dubbed the "Accountability for Government Act," would reclassify tens of thousands of federal employees as "at-will," making them easier to fire without cause or lengthy appeals, a move supporters say will "drain the swamp" and improve efficiency.
- Critics, including major federal employee unions, argue the bill is a direct assault on the merit-based civil service system, warning it could lead to mass political firings and a "brain drain" of experienced professionals.
- Key provisions would eliminate the current 30-day notice period for poor performance and expedite disciplinary actions, reducing the average termination process from 18 months to potentially just weeks.
- The bill specifically targets workers in departments like the EPA and Education, which are frequent targets of conservative reform, and excludes national security and law enforcement roles.
- With a razor-thin majority in the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to block the measure, but GOP leadership is exploring budget reconciliation to bypass a filibuster.