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Rep. Roy introduces bill to make all federal bureaucrats at-will

July 28, 2022

WASHINGTON— On Thursday, Rep. Chip Roy (TX-21) introduced the “Public Service Reform Act” to make all federal bureaucrats at-will employees and make them more accountable to the American people they serve.

The legislation makes executive branch employees at-will, meaning they can face any adverse action, including removal, provided it is not a prohibited personnel practice such as racial discrimination. The bill also removes the multiple existing pathways to appeal the adverse action, which are grossly abused by poor-performing or politically motivated bureaucrats.

“Most career civil servants do their jobs faithfully day in and day out, but there are still too many federal employees actively undermining America through their blatant contempt for our nation, the rule of law, and the American people,” Rep. Roy said of the bill. “That is because policies meant to insulate the government from politics have instead created a dense web of red tape that rewards laziness and noncompliance and enables hostile partisans to entrench themselves within federal agencies. Former President Trump is absolutely right about this: there needs to be a reckoning, and bureaucrats actually need to be fireable.”

The Public Service Reform Act will empower federal agencies to swiftly address misconduct and remove underperforming or ill-willed employees, creating a federal workforce focused on service to the American people. The bill will provide justice to federal employees who are victims of discrimination or whistleblower retaliation.

“My bill would make all federal bureaucrats at-will employees — just like private sector workers — and claw back the inordinate protections some federal employees grossly abuse while helping legitimate whistleblowers and victims of discrimination get the justice they deserve. This would empower federal agencies to swiftly address misconduct and remove underperforming employees, creating a workforce that once again serves the American people,” said Rep. Roy.

Rep. Roy pointed out how the federal government’s record of tyranny against Americans — particularly over the past two years — has shown why the ability to fire bureaucrats harming the American people is critical.

The American people have lost faith in our federal agencies — for good reason; they can see the abject failures of tyrannical COVID lockdowns, partisan prosecution of federal crimes, economy-killing energy policies, and the woke indoctrination by health agencies claiming, for example, men are women and that there are ‘pregnant people.’” Rep. Roy said.

The Public Service Reform Act’s House cosponsors include Reps. Mary Miller (IL-15), Troy Nehls (TX-22), Bob Good (VA-5), and Lauren Boebert (CO-3).

Organizations in support include America First Works, Heritage Action for America, FreedomWorks, and Citizens for Renewing America.

“We applaud Rep. Chip Roy’s legislation as it brings much-needed reform, helping fight government corruption by draining the swamp. Federal agencies need the ability to remove career bureaucrats who underperform or subvert the will of the American people,” said America First Works Executive Director Ashley Hayek.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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