Historically you are correct that only around 4,000 employees of the US federal government are 'political hires' that the President can change/hire/fire. However in October 2020, Trump ordered Schedule F [0] that effectively increases the number of career bureaucrats that could be made by political appointment rather than by a competitive process. The Order was promptly rescinded by the Biden administration in Jan 2021. [1]
The Trump administration said that they believed Schedule F would increase the number of career positions to roughly 50,000 existing jobs. However many think tanks and union members believe that Schedule F could be interpreted much more broadly and could include well over 100,000 positions.
If the Trump administration revives the Schedule F order, it could mean very significant changes for many career bureaucrats.
Fear mongering was certainly not my intention. The simplest explanation for why this didn’t happen during President Trump’s first term was because the order was effective Oct 21st, 2020. Which was less than 2 weeks before President Biden won the popular & electoral vote.
I share your hope that the incoming Trump administration will uphold the usual norms of hiring & firing careers federal employees!
The Trump administration said that they believed Schedule F would increase the number of career positions to roughly 50,000 existing jobs. However many think tanks and union members believe that Schedule F could be interpreted much more broadly and could include well over 100,000 positions.
If the Trump administration revives the Schedule F order, it could mean very significant changes for many career bureaucrats.
[0] - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-10-26/pdf/2020-2... [1] - https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-action...