Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is planning on instituting a wide-scale series of changes affecting federal workers, The Washington Post reports.
The chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Chaffetz's agenda includes measures to fire federal employees faster, increase pay for some, change retirement plans for new workers, and to move government operations out of Washington, D.C.
Chaffetz told reporters on Monday that he plans to target federal employees who have engaged in sexual misconduct and harassment for termination, saying the old civil service protections "allow far too much leniency to go out for far too long."
The congressman would also move federal retirement plans away from pensions and into a system with "defined contribution[s]" from the government in addition to employee funding. He also plans to limit federal hiring, agreeing with President-elect Donald Trimp's vow to pause federal hiring in his first 100 days in the White House.
Federal employees with computer expertise may earn more.
"There are some areas where we are probably going to have to pay people more money," Chaffetz said, citing the rising demand for cyber experts.
He added that Congress could easily move government operations outside Washington, which could bring a less expensive and "more reflective government," though according to the Federal Executive Board, 85 percent of federal employees are outside the greater D.C. area..
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.