Civil Service Reform

95 Percent of Federal Employees Express Liberal Views At Work

What do federal employees talk about around the proverbial watercooler? As it turns out, the overwhelming answer is: liberal politics. And that has ramifications for all Americans.

REPORT: 95% of Career Federal Employees Who Email about Politics at Work Express Liberal Views

Almost all federal workers are career employees. Of the approximately 2.2 million civilian positions in the federal executive branch, fewer than 5,000 are filled by political appointees who serve at the pleasure of the President. The rest are filled by career employees who keep their jobs no matter who wins the next election. This allows most federal employees to develop experience and institutional expertise—something that would be impossible if the federal employees were replaced en masse every time a new president took office.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: 95% of Career Federal Employees Who E-mail About Politics at Work Express Liberal Views

OFRA Simulation S2025–001

Fiscal Effect of Reducing Federal Civilian Workforce in Different Scenarios

Contents:

10-percent reduction of federal workforce in 2025
10-percent reduction of federal workforce every year during 2025-2028
20-percent reduction of federal workforce in 2025
20-percent reduction of federal workforce every year during 2025-2028
40-percenty reduction of federal workforce in 2025

Tales From the Swamp: How Federal Bureaucrats Resisted President Trump

American democracy operates on the principle of government by the consent of the governed. Americans regularly elect the president and Members of Congress. However, difficult-to-fire career employees with entrenched job security—not political appointees who serve at the discretion of the president—perform most federal work. These employees’ jobs do not depend on election outcomes. Career employees thus exercise federal power without adequate transparency and democratic accountability.