, Columnist
The Federal Workforce Needs Reform, But Trump Can’t Do It
The president has a well-defined sense of grievance about the federal workforce, but he has no ideas about how to fix it.
Another executive order.
Photographer: Jim Watson/AFP
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The federal civil service, which has many virtues, is also a bit of a mess. This is not only my view but that of almost every former Democratic administration official I know, going back to President Barack Obama’s first term. So I was fully prepared to concede President Donald Trump some points on this score and urge Democrats to at least try to work toward some good-faith reforms.
Then came his first two weeks in office. While Trump certainly has a well-defined sense of grievance about the civil service, he has no program for reform at all.