The Coming Battle Over Civil Service Reform

A thicket of laws shielding civil servants from being fired is ripe for reappraisal.

Via Wikimedia Commons
President Arthur, who in 1883 signed into law the Pendleton Act. Via Wikimedia Commons

President-elect Trump’s vow to fire the Justice Department lawyers pursuing the prosecution of him certainly puts into sharp relief the question of civil service reform. It’s part of a gathering storm over whether he, or any, president can tame the entrenched Washington bureaucracy. It sets the stage for a confrontation over the thicket of laws that shield federal civil servants from being fired. These laws, some of which date from the 19th century, are ripe for reappraisal.

The New York Sun is all for it. We, and no doubt many others, watched in horror at the emergence during Trump’s first term of a self-declared “resistance” to the elected administration. The Times actually published an op-ed piece by “Anonymous,” an administration aid, vowing to frustrate parts of the agenda of the elected government in which “Anonymous” was serving. Secretary Clinton at one point declared herself part of the resistance.

Enter your email to read this article.

Get 2 free articles when you subscribe.

or
Have an account? This is also a sign-in form.
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Advertisement
The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use