We The Future | Chapter 3: Defending a Professional Civil Service for a Democratic Future
Taking the Reins of Government: Central Personnel Agencies
TL;DR:
Project 2025 wants to purge tens of thousands of federal workers and replace them with political loyalists—turning government agencies into tools of obedience, not service. Chapter three breaks down how they're already doing it, and how we fight back by protecting civil service independence and building a new, diverse generation of public servants.
🧨 The Threat: What Project 2025 Wants—and What’s Already Happening
The backbone of American governance has always been its professional, nonpartisan civil service—a workforce guided by merit, not politics. But Project 2025 aims to break that backbone entirely.
Their plan?
Overhaul or eliminate merit-based hiring
Expand “Schedule F” to fire federal employees based on ideology
Replace career professionals with political loyalists
Gut the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and centralize hiring power inside the White House
This is a direct assault on the concept of good government. If implemented, it would turn agencies into partisan echo chambers—filled not with experts, but with enforcers. The result? A hollowed-out democracy that only answers to the executive.
🛑 What’s Already Happening
Trump’s original Schedule F order, which was repealed by the Biden administration, is now poised for a full-scale return. And behind the scenes, Project 2025 allies are preparing a “Day One” personnel purge list—targeting career civil servants in agencies like the DOJ, CDC, and EPA for removal.
Meanwhile, OPM’s independence is under siege. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is already interfering with agency hiring protocols and centralizing background checks and clearance systems. AI-based “loyalty filters” are being piloted for screening new applicants across multiple departments (Reuters).
This isn't about making government more efficient. It’s about making it obedient.
🌱 The Counter-Vision: Defending a Professional Civil Service for a Democratic Future
Goal:
Preserve and modernize the integrity of the federal workforce by protecting merit-based hiring, expanding diversity and labor protections, and building a pipeline of public servants rooted in equity and democratic values.
📌 Core Pillars:
📜 Enshrine Civil Service Protections in Law
Pass legislation—like a proposed “Federal Employee Fairness and Independence Act”—to permanently prohibit Schedule F or any similar ideological purge schemes. Codify civil service independence.
🏛️ Modernize the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Increase funding and authority to improve inclusive recruitment, enforce anti-discrimination protections, and streamline hiring access—especially for veterans, first-gen professionals, and people with disabilities.
🌍 Create a National Public Service Corps
Launch a paid, entry-level talent pipeline modeled after AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. Offer service tracks in climate, digital infrastructure, healthcare, and public administration. Diversify and energize the next generation of public servants.
✊ Expand Federal Labor Rights
Strengthen collective bargaining protections. Require neutrality agreements for contractors. Enact a Federal Workers’ Bill of Rights covering wages, workplace safety, and whistleblower protections.
✅ Technically Sound
Based on existing federal models (PMF, AmeriCorps, etc.) and supported by analyses from the Merit Systems Protection Board and the GAO.
🗳️ Politically Supportable
Civil service protections have bipartisan support—especially among veterans and labor unions. A bold but fair reform agenda can unite good governance advocates, labor allies, and federal employee organizations.
🏛️ Organizationally Implementable
Many elements are executive-actionable. Others can be implemented through appropriations or legislation supported by groups like AFGE, NTEU, and the Partnership for Public Service.
👤 Recommended Collaborator
Jennifer Pahlka – Former U.S. Deputy CTO and founder of Code for America. Pahlka is a national voice in modernizing public service, known for bridging technology and equity to redesign government systems that truly serve people.
💪 What We Can Do Right Now
Urge your representatives to support legislation that permanently bans Schedule F and protects civil service independence.
Support groups like AFGE, Partnership for Public Service, and Code for America who are advocating for civil service protections.
Spread the word—most people don’t know this is happening. Share this post, talk to public sector workers, and tag your reps.
Demand transparency from the White House and Congress on federal hiring and DOGE’s involvement in personnel oversight.
💫 In Community
This is how we fight. With facts. With care. With each other.
Join us tomorrow for Chapter 4.
Let’s build this future together.
Claire xo
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