An independent watchdog group is raising alarms that the Biden administration is using a special hiring loophole to “Trump-proof” the Department of Justice (DOJ) ahead of a potential Trump presidency. Protect the Public’s Trust, which monitors government ethics, claims that the administration is using Schedule A hiring authority to bypass the traditional competitive process for civil service appointments.
Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust, said that this hiring authority allows the administration to appoint attorneys and judges without competition, and these appointees can gain civil service protections after two years. “Once these individuals receive those protections, it will be nearly impossible for a future Trump administration to replace them,” Chamberlain explained.
Documents obtained by the watchdog show that over 100 immigration judges and more than 150 attorneys have been hired through this process, especially in key areas like immigration and antitrust enforcement. These roles are critical to advancing the Biden administration’s progressive agenda.
Chamberlain also noted that the Biden administration is rushing to finalize regulations in areas like climate change and healthcare, further solidifying its policies before the 2024 election. Critics say these moves are designed to limit the ability of a future Trump administration to reverse Biden’s agenda.
The White House has not yet commented on these claims, but the watchdog’s findings have raised concerns about the politicization of civil service appointments.
