When President-elect Donald Trump announced his plans to overhaul the federal government, many expected major changes, including the idea of removing thousands of civil servants in a bid to cut costs. But, according to a former top official from his first administration, turning this plan into reality might not be as easy as it sounds.
In a recent conversation with Anna Kramer from NOTUS, Ronald Sanders, who previously headed Trump’s Federal Salary Council, shared his concerns about one of the administration’s most ambitious proposals: “Schedule F.” This plan would allow government employees to become political appointees, making it easier to fire them.
Sanders, who actually stepped down from his position in protest over this issue, doesn’t believe it will work as intended. He says that while it sounds good on paper, it has some major flaws that could prevent it from being successful. In fact, he warns that the idea of replacing federal workers with loyalists—those who strictly align with the president’s agenda—could harm the government’s efficiency in the long run.
“It’s not as simple as pressing an easy button,” Sanders explained. He points out that while it’s possible to reduce government size, there are consequences to cutting too deep, especially when it comes to turning over staff every four years.
Jenny Mattingley, who worked in the White House and the Office of Management and Budget, echoed this concern. She pointed out that adding more political appointments creates a cycle of turnover that makes it harder for the government to stay efficient and meet its goals. “When you have constant changes, it’s tough to keep things running smoothly,” Mattingley said.
Jennifer Pahlka, who served under the Obama administration, called Schedule F a “loyalty test.” She explained that a healthy civil service requires a balance: being able to hire the right people and remove those who aren’t a good fit. Unfortunately, she believes we don’t have that balance today.
In short, while the idea of reshaping the federal workforce might sound like a way to save money and boost efficiency, experts argue it could actually lead to more problems than solutions. It seems that changing the way government works is easier said than done, especially when it comes to keeping things running smoothly for the American people.
