The Biden administration is using special hiring powers to “Trump-proof” the Department of Justice (DOJ) and prevent a future Trump presidency from reversing its policies, according to an independent watchdog group. Protect the Public’s Trust warned that the administration is bypassing the typical competitive hiring process to install civil service employees who will be difficult to remove.
Protect the Public’s Trust director Michael Chamberlain explained that the administration is using Schedule A hiring authority, which allows it to appoint hundreds of attorneys without going through the usual job listing and selection process. These appointees could later receive civil service protections, making it challenging for a future Trump administration to make staffing changes in the DOJ.
Documents obtained by the watchdog group show that more than 100 immigration judges and over 150 antitrust attorneys have already been hired under this authority. Chamberlain argued that the administration’s use of Schedule A is part of a broader strategy to entrench its progressive policies and make it harder for future administrations to reverse them.
In addition to the DOJ, the Biden administration is rushing to finalize federal rules on climate change, abortion, and healthcare, with the goal of cementing these policies before a potential Trump presidency. Critics believe that these efforts will limit the ability of a future administration to roll back Biden-era regulations.
