Former National Security Leaders Call for Reform, Just Not Schedule F

A group of former national security leaders is urging Republicans in Congress to abandon their pursuit of Schedule F and instead seek a middle ground in reforming the civil service.

In the letter to the chairs of several congressional committees, the group writes that changes need to be made, even though Schedule F, the Trump-era order that would reclassify large parts of the civil service to at-will status, is not the answer in their view.

“The blueprints proffered by both sides of the political aisle are problematic,” the group wrote. “One side is firmly rooted in a status quo that inadvertently impedes accountability, while the other, if implemented, may end up politicizing the very civil servants we all want to be politically neutral.”

In particular, the group warned that keeping politics out of the process is a must and has national security implications.

“Some would establish the political loyalty of those career civil servants as the best way of reassuring that accountability. We strongly disagree,” stated the later. “Using potentially politics, no matter how well intentioned, as a litmus test for the appointment or retention of civil servants, senior and otherwise, presents too great a risk to our national and homeland security.”

The letter was signed by former CIA Director Michael Hayden, former Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy, former Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, former Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte and former Navy Secretary Sean O’Keefe, all of whom served in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Call for Congressional Action

While warning against overpoliticization, the group urged Congress to make reforms to modernize the civil service noting that recent efforts by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to take politics out of the civil service, could be undone by a future president.

“In our view, this battle is far from over, and we believe that it will take a bipartisan Act of Congress to effectively strike the right balance between accountability and protections as a matter of law,” stated the letter.

The group proposed three actions.

·         Simplify operational accountability to make it easier and faster to hold federal employees accountable while preserving merit-based due process protections.

·         Enact laws that insulate career civil services in national security, intelligence, and law enforcement positions from potential politicization.

·         Periodically review the mix of political appointees and career civil services in national security agencies to ensure the “right balance between democratic control and apolitical administration by subordinate career civil servants.”

The letter comes as lawmakers begin to take up the fiscal year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The group said the NDAA is the best, most likely vehicle that can propel forward the proposals in the short-term.