Federal Managers Association

Press Release

• FMA DENOUNCES LEGISLATION TO MAKE ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES “AT-WILL” - May 11, 2023

• Alexandria, VA – Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced the Public Service Reform Act (H.R. 3115) on May 5, 2023. The bill would eliminate due process and make all federal employees “at-will.” Federal Managers Association (FMA) National President Craig Carter made the following comments on the introduction of the bill:

  "The Public Service Reform Act,” introduced immediately before Public Service Recognition Week, is a slap in the face to the dedicated public servants who tirelessly work every day to make our country run. If this bill was ever enacted, it would put the country’s government in a worse place than the spoils system – a time when our government was highly politicized and federal jobs were given as rewards to self-serving political allies. Thankfully, today, federal employees swear an oath to the Constitution and provide services to all Americans, regardless of who is in power and their own personal political beliefs. We have a formal merit system in place to guard against politicizing the civil service.

  “The bill text of H.R. 3115 states it would allow any federal employee to be terminated for “good cause, bad cause, or no cause at all.” It is shocking to think any Member of Congress could support terminating a public servant for ‘no cause,’ and even worse to ponder what termination for ‘bad cause’ would look like. The intent is obvious, and that is to undo the merit system we have developed over the last 140 years, and return to a winner-takes-all approach to government.

  “FMA strongly supports high standards and accountability for all feds, and empowering managers to address poor performers. However, this bill is political grandstanding on the shoulders of innocent, hardworking federal employees. It does not merit serious discussion in the halls of Congress. FMA strongly opposes H.R. 3115.”

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