This essay analyzes a watershed moment in the history of the U.S. federal civil service, driven by politically motivated reforms under the Trump administration. I explore how workforce reductions might affect key public services, the legal controversies surrounding Trump’s mass layoffs, and I project a rapid expansion of privatization. I posit how these factors might undermine responsiveness to vulnerable populations and erode oversight capacities essential to democratic governance. I argue that political economy, administrative, and constitutional law frameworks are the intellectual ballasts that most cogently support a response to these actions. I argue that a “parallel state” is being developed that undermines democratic responsiveness and accountability. Ultimately, I argue for rebuilding the federal workforce through reinvestment in (1) civil service protections that are attuned to emerging technologies and new economies, (2) programs that attract top talent, (3) institutional knowledge, and (4) merit-based hiring principles that are flexible to public needs.

中文翻译：

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美国联邦劳动力危机、平行状态和重建方法

本文分析了美国联邦公务员制度历史上的一个分水岭，由特朗普政府的政治动机改革推动。我探讨了裁员可能如何影响关键公共服务，围绕特朗普大规模裁员的法律争议，并预测私有化将迅速扩大。我假设这些因素可能会破坏对弱势群体的反应并削弱对民主治理至关重要的监督能力。我认为，政治经济学、行政和宪法框架是最有说服力地支持对这些行动的回应的智力压舱石。我认为，一个“平行国家”正在发展，它破坏了民主的反应和问责制。归根结底，我主张通过再投资于 （1） 适应新兴技术和新经济的公务员保护，（2） 吸引顶尖人才的计划，（3） 机构知识，以及 （4） 灵活满足公共需求的择优招聘原则来重建联邦劳动力。