Democrats Seek Info From FCC, FTC on 'Conversions' of Political Appointees
House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of New York, Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone of New Jersey and 22 other Democratic leaders pressed the FCC, FTC and other agencies Wednesday to provide “information on conversions of political appointees to civil…
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service positions” during President Donald Trump’s administration. The request follows Trump’s executive order creating a new classification of “policy-making” employees. Critics believe the EO could mean many in the federal workforce lose civil service protection, while others with political ties are given their jobs (see 2010300048). “Protecting the nonpartisan expertise of the career civil service is essential to the safety and security of the American people,” the lawmakers said in letters to the agencies’ heads, including FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, FTC Chairman Joe Simons and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “The merit system principles of the federal workforce put in place guardrails to ensure that competitive service requirements are not bypassed to inappropriately place political appointees in permanent career service positions.” The lawmakers asked the agencies and departments to provide initial information by Dec. 9 and biweekly updates through Jan. 20, when Joe Biden will be sworn in as president.