Biden Administration ‘Trump-Proofing’ DOJ Through Non-Competitive Hiring, Watchdog Sounds Alarm
The Biden administration is quietly working to “Trump-proof” the Department of Justice (DOJ) by using special hiring powers to appoint civil service employees who will be difficult to remove, an independent watchdog group has warned. Protect the Public’s Trust revealed that the administration is taking advantage of Schedule A hiring authority, which allows it to bypass the competitive process and install attorneys in key DOJ positions.
According to Protect the Public’s Trust director Michael Chamberlain, the Biden administration is using this non-competitive hiring process to bring in hundreds of attorneys who could later receive civil service protections, preventing a future Trump administration from making staffing changes in the DOJ.
Chamberlain noted that more than 100 immigration judges have been hired under this authority, as well as over 150 attorneys for the Antitrust Division. The watchdog group raised concerns that the Biden administration is placing ideologically aligned individuals in roles that could influence policy decisions.
The Biden administration has also been rushing to finalize federal regulations on climate change, healthcare, and abortion to cement its progressive agenda. Critics argue that the combination of special hiring and rule-making efforts is designed to block a future Trump presidency from reversing Biden’s policies.
The White House has not responded to requests for comment, but Chamberlain warned that these actions threaten to undermine the democratic process by making it difficult for future administrations to enact policy changes.
