Limit on political appointees
Sponsored by Hillary J. Scholten
What the bill does
This bill would set a limit of 1,600 on the number of certain political appointees in the executive branch. These appointees, known as Schedule C and Schedule G positions, are jobs that do not require Senate confirmation and are often filled based on political loyalty. The cap would apply starting in fiscal year 2027 and every year after.
The stakes
The bill would reduce the number of political appointees in the federal government, which could affect how quickly new administrations can fill key policy roles. It may also shift more decision-making power to career civil servants.
What each side says
- Limiting political appointees reduces the risk of patronage and ensures that more government jobs are filled based on merit rather than political connections.bill
- A smaller number of political appointees can lead to more stability and continuity in government operations, as career staff would have more influence.report
- Capping political appointees could hamper a president's ability to implement their agenda by limiting the number of loyal staff they can place in key positions.bill
- The cap might slow down the transition between administrations, as new presidents would have fewer slots to fill with their own appointees.report
Each point links to its source. The views are attributed to those sources, not stated as ours.
Lobbying filings, contributions, and votes are public records shown side by side. The further down the chain, the further the money is from this bill. This page does not assert that money caused any vote.