1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express serious concern about the recent federal hiring changes known as the rule of many, which replaces the long standing rule of three that guided merit based hiring in the civil service for over 150 years. Under the previous system, hiring managers were limited to selecting from the top three ranked candidates, a safeguard designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and adherence to merit principles. The new rule allows agencies to choose from a much broader pool of candidates based on cut off scores or other flexible criteria. While this change is being framed as modernization and increased flexibility, it raises significant concerns. Expanding the candidate pool may weaken long standing protections against favoritism and politicization, making it easier to bypass highly qualified candidates. It also increases competition for current federal employees seeking promotions, potentially undermining morale and career stability within the workforce. Additionally, this shift appears to be part of a broader pattern of changes affecting federal employees, including potential impacts on promotions, job security, and long term benefits. These cumulative changes risk eroding the integrity of the civil service system that has historically ensured a professional, nonpartisan workforce. Federal employees serve the public and deserve a hiring system that is transparent, fair, and rooted in merit not one that introduces ambiguity or opens the door to inconsistent practices. I urge you to exercise oversight of this policy change and advocate for safeguards that protect merit based hiring, veterans preference, and fair competition. Congress must ensure that efforts to modernize government do not come at the expense of fairness, accountability, and the stability of the federal workforce. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.