Opinion | A Message to Federal Employees: Please Stay
The importance of federal workers to our democracy has never been greater.
TroibNews 
In the coming weeks, U.S. civil servants are faced with a challenging decision during the holiday season: remain in their positions and serve under a president who openly disregards them and may attempt to dismiss them, or resign. Numerous individuals have already expressed a preference for exploring new job opportunities rather than awaiting President-elect Donald Trump’s anticipated purge.
I urge you—implore you: stay. Your choice extends beyond your career or a singular president; it is part of a broader conflict that has played out throughout American history regarding the role of the federal government. Should it be an impartial source of expertise and professionalism, or rather a partisan instrument for presidential agendas? With Trump's administration aiming at civil servants, we risk regressing to an era dominated by cronyism—one that harmed the American public. By remaining in your positions for as long as possible, you can help protect the integrity of our democracy.
Trump and his supporters will not make this easy. “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,” declared Russell Vought, the architect behind Project 2025 who has been appointed to lead the Office of Management and Budget. “When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.”
Vought’s strategy aims to eliminate job protections, diminish essential roles, and replace you with MAGA loyalists. Trump associates Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk have openly expressed enthusiasm for the idea of a mass dismissal of federal workers in national media outlets. Furthermore, Trump is already considering measures like relocating federal agencies away from Washington, disrupting the lives of countless employees and their families.
However, it is crucial for you to endure the challenges ahead, as history reveals what occurs when a government is transformed into a partisan entity. In the 1800s, inefficiency, incompetence, and corruption plagued the government due to President Andrew Jackson's establishment of a "spoils system," which favored his supporters over qualified individuals who earned their positions based on merit.
This spoils system persisted until it culminated in an outrage in 1881, when a disgruntled partisan, denied a federal position, assassinated President James Garfield. In response, Congress enacted the Pendleton Act, which professionalized federal employment and largely dismantled the cronyism characteristic of Jackson’s era by instituting a merit-based hiring system overseen by the newly created Civil Service Commission.
Since that time, contemporary government norms have centered on the principle that merit—rather than political affiliation—should guide civil service. A diverse group of qualified professionals has emerged to serve a higher purpose. For instance, USDA meat inspectors safeguard public health, VA healthcare providers care for our veterans with dignity, customer support representatives assist older Americans with Social Security and Medicare, FBI agents fight crime, EPA scientists ensure safe drinking water, and CIA analysts provide crucial intelligence on global threats. These roles, along with many others, were filled based on competence and a commitment to serving the American populace. If you choose to leave now, the repercussions will affect every American.
Of course, there is a substantial need for reform within our government, including civil service. However, reclassifying federal posts and appointing partisan loyalists is not the solution. Such action would lead us back to a spoils system where political interests undermine impartial governance.
It’s worth noting that the president has ample opportunities to make personnel decisions while executing his policy agenda. A new U.S. president typically makes around 4,000 political appointments—significantly more than leaders in other democracies. These appointees play a role in ensuring that the large apparatus of government aligns with the policy vision of elected officials. Yet, the apolitical cadre of approximately 2 million federal civil servants represents the backbone of our democracy, implementing presidential directives while maintaining continuity across different administrations. Their work is fundamentally distinct from that of political appointees, and that distinction is vital.
Replacing expert professionals dedicated to public service with partisans whose chief qualification is loyalty to the president would severely hinder the government’s capacity to confront global challenges, address citizens’ needs, and uphold the rule of law. In today's complex and perilous world, a nonpartisan civil service, focused on the public good, is necessary more than ever.
As you contemplate your options, reflect on the significant implications your decision will have on our democracy. While I cannot guarantee that Trump will not challenge your work conditions or that you won't face budget cuts or layoffs, I implore you not to abandon your offices prematurely. Our public institutions cannot withstand such a loss.
You are essential to the very fabric of our democracy. Please, do not comply in advance.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
I urge you—implore you: stay. Your choice extends beyond your career or a singular president; it is part of a broader conflict that has played out throughout American history regarding the role of the federal government. Should it be an impartial source of expertise and professionalism, or rather a partisan instrument for presidential agendas? With Trump's administration aiming at civil servants, we risk regressing to an era dominated by cronyism—one that harmed the American public. By remaining in your positions for as long as possible, you can help protect the integrity of our democracy.
Trump and his supporters will not make this easy. “We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,” declared Russell Vought, the architect behind Project 2025 who has been appointed to lead the Office of Management and Budget. “When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains.”
Vought’s strategy aims to eliminate job protections, diminish essential roles, and replace you with MAGA loyalists. Trump associates Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk have openly expressed enthusiasm for the idea of a mass dismissal of federal workers in national media outlets. Furthermore, Trump is already considering measures like relocating federal agencies away from Washington, disrupting the lives of countless employees and their families.
However, it is crucial for you to endure the challenges ahead, as history reveals what occurs when a government is transformed into a partisan entity. In the 1800s, inefficiency, incompetence, and corruption plagued the government due to President Andrew Jackson's establishment of a "spoils system," which favored his supporters over qualified individuals who earned their positions based on merit.
This spoils system persisted until it culminated in an outrage in 1881, when a disgruntled partisan, denied a federal position, assassinated President James Garfield. In response, Congress enacted the Pendleton Act, which professionalized federal employment and largely dismantled the cronyism characteristic of Jackson’s era by instituting a merit-based hiring system overseen by the newly created Civil Service Commission.
Since that time, contemporary government norms have centered on the principle that merit—rather than political affiliation—should guide civil service. A diverse group of qualified professionals has emerged to serve a higher purpose. For instance, USDA meat inspectors safeguard public health, VA healthcare providers care for our veterans with dignity, customer support representatives assist older Americans with Social Security and Medicare, FBI agents fight crime, EPA scientists ensure safe drinking water, and CIA analysts provide crucial intelligence on global threats. These roles, along with many others, were filled based on competence and a commitment to serving the American populace. If you choose to leave now, the repercussions will affect every American.
Of course, there is a substantial need for reform within our government, including civil service. However, reclassifying federal posts and appointing partisan loyalists is not the solution. Such action would lead us back to a spoils system where political interests undermine impartial governance.
It’s worth noting that the president has ample opportunities to make personnel decisions while executing his policy agenda. A new U.S. president typically makes around 4,000 political appointments—significantly more than leaders in other democracies. These appointees play a role in ensuring that the large apparatus of government aligns with the policy vision of elected officials. Yet, the apolitical cadre of approximately 2 million federal civil servants represents the backbone of our democracy, implementing presidential directives while maintaining continuity across different administrations. Their work is fundamentally distinct from that of political appointees, and that distinction is vital.
Replacing expert professionals dedicated to public service with partisans whose chief qualification is loyalty to the president would severely hinder the government’s capacity to confront global challenges, address citizens’ needs, and uphold the rule of law. In today's complex and perilous world, a nonpartisan civil service, focused on the public good, is necessary more than ever.
As you contemplate your options, reflect on the significant implications your decision will have on our democracy. While I cannot guarantee that Trump will not challenge your work conditions or that you won't face budget cuts or layoffs, I implore you not to abandon your offices prematurely. Our public institutions cannot withstand such a loss.
You are essential to the very fabric of our democracy. Please, do not comply in advance.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
