Executive Order 13989, titled “Protecting the Federal Workforce,” aimed to ensure career civil servants could perform their duties without undue political influence. It focused on bolstering the merit system principles and prohibiting personnel practices that could be construed as political interference. Rescinding this order effectively removed the protections and directives it established for the federal workforce.
The original order was intended to safeguard the independence and impartiality of the civil service. By preventing politically motivated personnel actions, it sought to maintain the stability and expertise within government agencies. Removing this safeguard potentially opened the door for increased political influence in hiring, firing, and promotion decisions, potentially undermining the non-partisan nature of the federal workforce. Historically, similar actions have been viewed with concern due to the potential for politicization of government services.
