Prohibiting Political Appointees From Taking Career Civil Service Jobs and “Burrowing” Into the Bureaucracy (H.R. 1132)

What is H.R. 1132?

(Updated December 12, 2018)

This bill would prohibit political appointees from “burrowing” into the bureaucracy by being appointed to a career civil service position within two years of leaving their political position. The prohibition wouldn’t apply to a political appointee who hasn’t personally and substantially participated in any particular matter while employed in a political position. (The process of non-career, political appointees leveraging their appointment into protected, high-paying, senior-level civil service jobs is referred to as burrowing.)

Argument in favor

Political appointees are expected to step down when the administration which appointed them leaves office, not “burrow” into the bureaucracy by taking a career position in the federal civil service. This prevents appointees from doing that.

Argument opposed

Political appointees should be able to pursue whatever jobs they want when their administration’s time in office comes to an end, even if that’s a career position in the federal civil service. A two-year wait period won’t prevent that.

Impact

Non-career political appointees who would otherwise “burrow” into a career civil service position; and federal agencies.

Cost of H.R. 1132

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would have an insignificant cost.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) introduced this bill to put a two-year prohibition on certain non-career political appointees “burrowing” into a career position in the federal civil service, ensuring that such roles remain solely merit-based:

“A political appointment is a privilege that carries with it the responsibility of serving your country. Part of serving your country means stepping down at the end of your term of service, and this bill simply enforces that expectation. Without this bill as a safeguard, political appointees can embed across our bureaucracy, carrying on the agenda of their appointing president long after voters have chosen a new direction.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) added:

“This bill, which would ensure a cooling off period for political appointees before accepting a position in our civil service, is a simple good-government initiative. It is part of our orderly transfer of power that when an Administration comes to an end, presidential appointees leave the executive branch with the President.”

This legislation passed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on a voice vote and has the support of three cosponsors in the House, including two Democrats and one Republican.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate
  
• FedSmith
  
• Greeley Tribune