Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, which would block the Biden administration's proposed rule titled: ``Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles,'' which would help prevent any future administration from reinstating the so-called schedule F.

The gentleman who is the author of this amendment says all we are asking for is flexibility. Balderdash. We already know that the Trump putative Presidency in exile have plans for moving 50,000 Federal employees initially into this new schedule F not authorized by Congress.

That is not flexibility. That is gutting civil service protection that has been in place since the 1880s. Congress created by statute a politics-free professional cadre of Federal employment to protect Federal employees and the public from the previous corrupt spoil system and political interference of President after President, irrespective of party.

Going back to that system is an enormous step backward and a huge disservice to Federal employees and to the public they serve and we serve.

If we are going to do this, then Congress has to be consulted. No President should have the unilateral authority to create a new profound schedule for the civil service. If it was created by statute, then a change to it this profound must also be heard by Congress and acted on by statute.

Schedule F would be a destructive instrument at the whim of any President. The gentleman says: Well, Obama could have had it if this were in place.

So could Trump and so could Biden. That is the problem. No President should have this kind of breathtaking power. I think the time is ripe for Congress to stand up for its own prerogatives and protect the original legislation creating a nonpartisan political service and protect the Federal employees who serve our public.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source