1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern over recent actions by the President that threaten the independence of the federal employee appeals system and undermine long standing civil service protections. According to recent reporting, these efforts could weaken or even eliminate the ability of federal employees to appeal adverse actions to independent bodies. This is not a minor procedural change. It strikes at the core of a merit based civil service system designed to prevent political interference and ensure fairness. For decades, federal employees have relied on neutral adjudicators such as the Merit Systems Protection Board to review terminations, demotions, and other disciplinary actions. These protections are foundational to maintaining a professional, nonpartisan workforce. The civil service framework established by Congress guarantees due process rights, including notice, the opportunity to respond, and access to independent review. These safeguards exist specifically to prevent arbitrary or politically motivated personnel decisions. Weakening or bypassing this system risks replacing merit with loyalty and erodes public trust in government institutions. Reports indicate that proposed changes could limit or remove employees’ ability to appeal to independent bodies, raising serious concerns about accountability and fairness. This is not simply an internal workforce issue. It is a constitutional concern. The separation of powers depends on Congress setting the rules for federal employment, not unilateral executive action that overrides statutory protections. Undermining these protections opens the door to politicization of the workforce and weakens the rule of law. I urge you to take immediate and decisive action to defend the independence of the federal employee appeals system, protect due process rights for civil servants, conduct oversight of any executive actions that attempt to bypass or dismantle statutory protections, and ensure that any reforms to the civil service are transparent, lawful, and consistent with congressional intent. Federal employees serve the public, not any one administration. Preserving their protections is essential to maintaining a stable, effective, and trustworthy government. I ask that you stand firmly against any effort to erode these principles.