For years, Republicans have voiced concerns about the federal government, claiming it's populated by bureaucrats who oppose their policies and are difficult to remove. Presidents from both parties have historically initiated hiring freezes at the start of their terms, aiming to shape personnel practices.
However, President Trump has taken unprecedented steps. He's requested that federal job applicants express their support for administration policies in writing and has required training for senior government officials on White House executive orders. Furthermore, senior agency officials, often political appointees, are now directly involved in the hiring process, a departure from past practices.
These new guidelines were issued recently, coinciding with the Trump administration's efforts to fill vacancies created by significant job cuts in the preceding months.
The underlying strategy involves replacing career civil service employees, whom Mr. Trump has labeled the "deep state," with individuals who align with his agenda and demonstrate loyalty to him. Another element of this plan involves converting certain senior positions to "at will" employment, making it easier to dismiss employees. Critics view these measures, combined with the new hiring guidelines, as a deliberate attempt to politicize the bureaucracy.
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