PBS NewsHour - The history of civil service and the impact of Trump’s slashing of the workforce
🤖 AI Summary
Trump’s Mass Firings: President Trump initiated mass firings in federal agencies, impacting tens of thousands of staff [00:00]. This action is part of an ongoing debate about the role and size of the federal government [00:54].
Early Civil Service: The debate over the size of the federal workforce dates back to President Andrew Jackson in 1829, who cut 20% of the workforce and hired party loyalists [01:16]. The “spoils system” emerged, where political parties controlled government jobs [01:43].
Pendleton Act: In 1883, the Pendleton Act was signed, establishing exams for federal workers and limiting the role of political parties in hiring and firing, creating a meritocracy [02:36].
Roosevelt’s New Deal: Franklin Roosevelt significantly expanded the federal workforce to provide jobs during the Great Depression [02:52].
Carter’s Reforms: In 1978, Jimmy Carter’s civil service reform aimed to bring more accountability, creating the office of personnel management [03:44].
Reagan’s Shift: Ronald Reagan articulated the federal workforce as unaccountable and inefficient, though he ultimately added to the workforce [04:10].
Clinton’s Downsizing: Bill Clinton oversaw a large-scale downsizing of the federal workforce, reducing it by over 400,000 people [04:49].
Trump’s Approach: Trump’s administration focuses on reducing government size, with concerns raised about the potential for confusion and dysfunction [06:18].
Potential Impacts: The changes could lead to issues such as delays in social security checks, longer patent approvals, and decreased customer service [06:49].