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Hoyer Statement on President Trump's Executive Order Undermining the Federal Civilian Workforce

October 22, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today after President Trump signed an executive order which would designate federal employees involved in making policy to "excepted service," making it easier for political appointees to fire workers at will and remove preferences for hiring veterans:

"Today's executive order is a betrayal of the hardworking, dedicated, and patriotic Americans who have chosen to work on behalf of their fellow citizens as civilian federal employees. It is also a slap in the face to veterans, who under President Trump's order will no longer be given hiring preference for thousands of federal positions. It is yet another example of his disdain for those who have served our nation and who wish to serve it still.

"The competitive, non-partisan civil service has served our country well for generations. Now, President Trump is seeking to remove the protections that keep politics out of our civil service, safeguard non-partisan federal employees from being fired unfairly, and enable them to organize through federal employee unions. This is the largest assault on our civil service since the establishment of the modern civil service system in 1883 that has sought public servants based only on their abilities and qualifications, not their political leanings.

"I am proud to represent more than 62,000 outstanding federal employees in my district, and I will continue to fight on their behalf as they and their colleagues in every corner of America work hard on behalf of the 328 million people of this country. The Democratic-led House will continue to stand up for federal employees for as long as this Administration seeks to denigrate them, threaten their jobs, and undermine their work keeping America safe, healthy, innovative, and economically competitive."