Walkinshaw, Scholten Introduce the CAP Act to Limit the Number of Non-Confirmed Political Appointees across the Federal Government

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03) introduced the Capping Appointed Positions (CAP) Act , which would place a reasonable limit on the number of political staff a president can place throughout the federal government without Senate approval. This legislation would help prevent the increasing politicization of federal agencies and provide a commonsense check on the president’s power while preserving a robust civil service. Congressman Walkinshaw and Congresswoman Scholten were joined by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). “President Trump is attempting to replace our professional, nonpartisan civil service with political loyalists and sycophants,” said Congressman James R. Walkinshaw. “The CAP Act puts necessary guardrails in place to stop this dangerous politicization of the federal government. I’m proud to join Congresswoman Scholten and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton in ensuring federal agencies are staffed by qualified professionals who put the American people, not political loyalty, first.” “President Trump has placed more political appointees in government positions without Senate approval than under any other administration in our nation’s history. That is not how a democratic government is supposed to work, and my CAP Act checks that power by limiting those positions to 1,600 appointments,” said Congresswoman Scholten. “This is a commonsense way Congress can help ensure the people who make some of the most important decisions in our federal government go through an oversight process that holds them accountable.” "The growing politicization of federal agencies and the simultaneous hollowing out of career leadership is a direct threat to the nonpartisan, professional civil service that Americans depend on. The number of non-Senate-confirmed political appointees has now eclipsed 1,900, a record high that exceeds historical norms by hundreds of positions. The CAP Act would place a reasonable ceiling on these appointments and provide meaningful guardrails to ensure government remains both responsive to a president's agenda and capable of delivering consistent, reliable services to the public. I commend Representative Scholten for her leadership in drafting this legislation and urge Congress to act," said Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. This legislation would place a limit on Schedule C and Schedule G positions, which are political appointments, not career civil service positions. These employees serve at the pleasure of the administration and can be hired or fired without the standard civil service procedure and without Senate oversight. Prior to the Trump administration, the record high number of these appointees serving at any point in time was 1,783 under the George H.W. Bush Administration. The current total is up to 1,926. The CAP Act reflects Congresswoman Scholten's ongoing work to promote accountability and oversight in the federal government. Congresswoman Scholten previously introduced the Integrity in Government (IG) Act , which would strengthen checks and balances by installing new oversight measures for the White House and its top offices and protecting independent watchdogs from political retaliation. ###