A Guide to Understanding Federal Government Workers

The federal civil service is made up of over 2 million professional, nonpartisan workers who keep our government running no matter which political party is in power. These workers ensure our food is safe, deliver mail, protect our water, and provide many other services we rely on every day. Most federal workers (over 80%) live outside Washington D.C. and work in communities across all 50 states. However, the civil service is currently under attack through mass firings, forced resignations, and efforts to replace professional workers with political appointees. This threatens the stability and fairness of government services. Democracy Forward created this guide to help people understand what the civil service is, its history from the corrupt 'spoils system' of the 1800s to today's merit-based system, and what's at stake. The guide explains current threats like Schedule F policies that strip job protections, politically-motivated hiring questions, and efforts to bypass competitive hiring processes. It shows how these attacks could harm the quality of government services and undermine democracy itself.