The Fragility of Merit: Erosion of the Foundation of Public Service Under Trump

Abstract

A professional civil service resting on principles of merit is widely considered an essential and well-established feature of modern government. Nevertheless, the foundation of merit upon which the U.S. federal service is erected is not secure. Indeed, the system is quite fragile. It presumes the presence of a President who understands and is committed to the concept of merit and who has the political will to secure its preservation. This fact was made abundantly clear during the Presidency of Donald J. Trump from January of 2017 to January of 2021. This article describes events during the Trump Presidency that illustrate the fragility of the merit system in the U.S. federal government.