Enemy Territory

Carter vs. The Bureaucrats

President Carter, who has declared that civil service reform was "absolutely vital," has not yet pushed his proposals through Congress. For the past two weeks he has waged a lobbying campaign, meeting with members of Congress, business executives and newspaper editors. One day, he even ventured into enemy territory by participating in a public meeting in Fairfax, Va., a suburban county where it is estimated that 40% of the families have at least one member who works for the Federal Government.

The President was at his understated, low-key best, and if he did not convince his skeptical audience, he did not antagonize them either. In his opening remarks, he pledged: "There is no way that this legislation which has been proposed...can possibly hurt any competent and dedicated public servant."

One of the most important concerns to the public servants was the proposed creation of a Senior Executive Service of 9,200 federal managers who could be transferred from one agency to another and who would be paid according to merit. Ruth Van Cleve, an Interior Department employee, expressed a common concern that such executives might be subjected to political pressure if they wanted to keep their jobs or get more money. Carter said SES membership would be voluntary; if its members were not happy in their posts, they could return to their old categories with full legal protection. Besides, the new program would impose a 10% limit on political appointees in the federal bureaucracy.

Carter's replies were clear and direct. One woman was worried about the emphasis being put on making it easier to fire people. His response: "It is an abuse for a good employee to protect one who's no good." Another woman was applauded after saying she was often made to feel ashamed of working for the Government. "As President," said Carter, "I have some of the same feeling you do. Some of my old classmates and friends think I have disgraced my class by becoming a full-time Government employee."

Support in Congress is broad but shallow, while opposition from the bureaucracy is focused and intense. Congressional committees have made some major changes in the bill, which is expected to reach the House floor late this week. Republicans who backed the original proposal are now offended by a provision making it easier for federal employees, who are estimated to be mostly Democrats, to engage in political activity. The White House is confident that It can live with some of the changes and persuade the full House to modify others. If victory is not exactly in sight, it is also not out of the question. -

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