1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for your decision to cosponsor HB492, the Saving the Civil Service Act. Your support for this legislation demonstrates a commitment to protecting the merit-based civil service system that has served our country for generations. The prohibition on establishing Schedule F is essential to preventing the politicization of our federal workforce. By freezing excepted service schedules to their September 30, 2020 definitions and requiring written employee consent for any transfers between service categories, this bill protects career civil servants from arbitrary reclassification that would strip them of critical job protections. The one percent cap on competitive-to-excepted service transfers per presidential term ensures agencies retain necessary flexibility while preventing wholesale workforce restructuring for political purposes. These protections matter because they preserve the expertise and institutional knowledge that keep our government functioning effectively. Career federal employees serve constituents regardless of which party holds power, and they deserve the stability to do their jobs without fear of politically motivated removal. The requirement for Office of Personnel Management approval for Schedule C transfers adds an important safeguard against abuse while maintaining appropriate oversight. Your cosponsorship sends a powerful message that merit, not political loyalty, should determine federal employment decisions. The bill's employee consent provisions empower individual workers with meaningful control over their employment status, fundamentally protecting their rights while allowing agencies to operate within reasonable limits. Thank you for standing up for the principles of professional, nonpartisan public service. Your leadership on this issue helps ensure that federal agencies can continue to serve the American people with the expertise and independence they deserve.