About Our Broken Politics, Broken Media, Broken Republic

In 1883 The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act established a merit-based civil service system for hiring and protecting employees from political dismissal. The intent was to end the "spoils system" of political employment.

Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 further codified merit system principles, and defined prohibited personnel practices to protect against discrimination and political favoritism. [The spoils system history]

There are 2.2 million civilian employees today. These are regular American citizens, non-politicians hired with the qualifications to do a specific job. By law today they have the right to unionize, they are protected against political influence, and pledge by solemn oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and bear true faith and allegiance to it, NOT to any individual like the President. This oath is outlined in 5 U.S. Code 3331.

This administration and conservative members of the Supreme Court are attempting to end this long-standing structure under the guise of the Unitary Executive Theory. This theory dates back to the Reagan administration. It proposes that since the President "shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" (Article II, section 3 of the Constitution) he needs the power to appoint (or replace) all personnel in the Executive branch. To a point this theory makes sense. The "buck stops" at the Presidents desk so he must be able to staff accordingly.

There is ambiguity however with the constitutional structure of the Executive branch. The President has always had the power to hire and fire the "officers" of the Executive branch, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate (Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution). They serve "at the pleasure of the President".
[the Constitution of the United States of America]

The danger in extending this power to civilian employees of the government should be obvious to the most casual observer:
1) We would return the the age of the spoils system.
2) Our agencies would become no more than outlets for propaganda when employees jobs depend on the political whims of the President.
3) The reporting of critical data such as inflation rates, would be subject to political influence. In other words we would be blinded.
4) Civilian employees would be subject to retribution for reporting fraud, waste or illegal actions by the administration.
5) Watchdog protections would be muted or eliminated.
6) Workplace rights would be muted or eliminated.