Trump makes it easier to fire federal workers for misconduct

Associated Press

May 25, 2018

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the members of the National Governors Association in the State Dining Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump is taking steps to make it easier to fire federal workers for misconduct.

Trump signed a series of executive orders Friday directing agencies to make changes his staff says Congress has ignored.

The executive orders to overhaul the civil service call for:

—Negotiating smarter contracts with federal employee unions.

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—Renegotiating contracts to limit to 25 percent the amount of time federal employees who are authorized to work on behalf of a labor union can spend on union business during work hours. The administration says this and other changes could save taxpayers $100 million annually.

—And streamlining the length of time needed to fire a federal worker for poor performance. The process currently takes between six months and a year, longer if the dismissal is appealed.

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