A government watchdog group has raised concerns that the Biden administration is working to “Trump-proof” the Department of Justice (DOJ) by using non-competitive hiring practices. Protect the Public’s Trust, an independent watchdog, claims that the administration is exploiting Schedule A hiring authority to place civil servants into critical roles without the usual competitive process, potentially making it difficult for a future Trump administration to reverse Biden’s policies.
Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public’s Trust, warned that these appointees could gain civil service protections after two years, preventing a new president from replacing them. “They are using this authority to install hundreds of attorneys into key roles that will be hard to remove if President Trump wins in 2024,” Chamberlain said.
The watchdog group highlighted more than 100 immigration judges and over 150 attorneys hired through this method. These roles are critical to shaping immigration and antitrust policies, which the Biden administration has prioritized.
Critics argue this is part of a broader strategy by the administration to entrench progressive policies across the federal government, preventing future administrations from rolling them back easily. The Biden administration has also been finalizing federal rules on climate change, healthcare, and immigration, all aimed at solidifying their agenda before the 2024 election.
The White House has yet to respond to these allegations, but the issue is raising eyebrows among those concerned about the increasing politicization of civil service roles.
