{"id":25391,"date":"2023-05-10T15:25:55","date_gmt":"2023-05-10T15:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/05\/10\/republicans-bring-back-bill-to-make-firing-federal-workers-easier\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:07:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:07:09","slug":"republicans-bring-back-bill-to-make-firing-federal-workers-easier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/congress\/2023\/05\/10\/republicans-bring-back-bill-to-make-firing-federal-workers-easier\/","title":{"rendered":"Republicans bring back bill to make firing federal workers easier"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Legislation is sprouting on both sides of Congress that would make federal employees at-will, effectively cutting off paths for recourse if an employee feels they have been removed unfairly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Senate, Rick Scott (R-Fl.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) reintroduced the Public Service Reform Act<\/a> on May 9 with companion legislation in the House led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tx.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear that the bureaucracy of the federal government is both a waste of taxpayer dollars and inefficient,\u201d Sen. Scott said in a statement on Tuesday. \u201cRed tape and bloated federal agencies constantly slow down progress and hamper American innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trimming the bureaucracy is a popular stance for conservatives, many of whom see the 2-million large civilian workforce as a budget line item to strike. The Public Service Reform Act would also dismantle the Merit Systems Protection Board, which protects federal employees from management and adjudicates individual employees\u2019 appeals. The bill also limits appeals from individuals following termination, unless they\u2019re claiming whistleblower retaliation or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\t