Support the Merit Systems Protection Board Reauthorization Act, H.R. 6391

On behalf of FreedomWorks’ activist community, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to support the Merit Systems Protection Board Reauthorization Act, H.R. 6391, introduced by Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.). This legislation would appropriate funds to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and make it easier to fire government employees for poor performance or misconduct while maintaining a fair review process.

The MSPB is an independent federal agency designed to ensure the federal civil service is governed by merit and to adjudicate appeals of certain personnel actions taken by the government. H.R. 6391 strives to streamline the agencies activities and to change evidentiary standards to prevent the board from reinstating underperforming employees.

By lowering the evidentiary standard, this gives agencies more broad discretion to take actions based on poor performance. MSPB had also previously been granted the authority to undo such adverse actions against underperforming employees. H.R. 6391 limits that authority by allowing the board to take such action only if they determine the firing to be “wholly without evidence.”

The bill would also require MSPB to institute a small filing fee for its proceedings. This would cut down on the amount of frivolous cases brought before the board, saving them both time and money. The fee can be waived if it would cause undue economic hardship on the filer and will be refunded in the event of a successful appeal.

The federal government routinely protects its employees who fail to perform their duties, and American citizens are paying for it with their tax dollars. It is for these reason that I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to support the Merit Systems Protection Board Reauthorization Act, H.R. 6391.

Sincerely,
Adam Brandon, President, FreedomWorks