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Before 1883, the incoming party would fire government workers of any opposing political party and award their position to party loyalists. The Pendleton Act made this practice illegal and instead required merit-based hiring, which has obvious long-term benefits from a stable and functioning government.

Trump's executive order exploited a loophole to eliminate employment protections for any civil servants deemed by the administration to be in a role "of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making or policy-advocating character", allowing them to be easily fired and replaced by Trump loyalists.

Rating justification

There is a reasonable case to be made for ensuring government employees act in accordance with the President's directives. However, this Executive Order appears to skirt both the Pendleton Act and Administrative Procedure Act, and is likely to result in a spoils system of government.

References

• Trump's revenge (axios.com)
• RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO POLICY-INFLUENCING POSITIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE (whitehouse.gov)