Representative Barry Loudermilk has reintroduced the Modern Employment Reform, Improvement and Transformation (MERIT) Act, aiming to overhaul the federal workforce by prioritizing merit-based hiring and streamlining the process for addressing misconduct. This move follows President Trump's executive actions focused on federal workforce reform, including the closure of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices.
Loudermilk emphasized the need to restore public trust in government by holding bureaucrats accountable and eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. He believes the MERIT Act is crucial for achieving this goal. The legislation seeks to replace the lengthy Chapter 43 process for handling poor performance with the more efficient Chapter 75 process, allowing for quicker removal or suspension of employees. It also empowers agencies to remove senior executives for performance issues and recoup bonuses or awards if misconduct is discovered later.
Furthermore, the MERIT Act impacts the retirement benefits of employees removed due to felony convictions related to their official duties. The period of service during which the criminal activity occurred would not be counted towards their annuity calculations. Loudermilk has been developing this bill for several years and believes it's timely given the current political climate. He sees it as a way to create a more effective government that serves the American people by aligning federal employment practices with those of the private sector.
The congressman expressed optimism about the synergy between the MERIT Act and President Trump's and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. He anticipates collaborating with them and his colleagues to ensure the bill's passage in the House. Several other representatives have already co-sponsored the legislation. This initiative aligns with other actions taken by the Trump administration, including the mandate for federal employees to return to in-person work within 30 days.
