Representative Wachenshaw criticizes OPM rule, announces Federal Workforce Caucus in Fairfax County

Representative Wachenshaw spoke in Fairfax County, Virginia, on the challenges facing the federal civil service and announced a new congressional caucus to defend and rebuild the federal workforce.

Wachenshaw said federal employees in Virginia’s 11th District — "more than 50,000 residents" he noted — are on the front lines of public service and are being harmed by recent policy changes. He accused the administration of actions that "traumatize the federal workforce," including efforts he described as "stripping of collective bargaining rights" and moves to "turn that proud, nonpartisan civil service into a political patronage system."

Wachenshaw cited specific agency impacts, saying "the administration has hollowed out the cybersecurity agency," "weakened NOAA by indiscriminately firing staff critical to public safety," and "undermined USAID," and linked those personnel shifts to broader security and service risks. He also said ordinary users are feeling the effects: "the American people are now finding it much harder to get help with their Social Security claims, and veterans are facing higher barriers to getting the timely quality care that we as a nation owe to them."

Describing an episode during a recent shutdown, Wachenshaw asserted that the administration "illegally attempted to use the shutdown ... to fire thousands, 4,000 federal workers." He said his side "pushed back," "called out the fact that shutdown rifts are a violation of the law," and worked with partners to block the effort.

On policy, Wachenshaw identified a new Office of Personnel Management action: "OPM issued a new rule attempting to codify Schedule PC, formerly known as Schedule F," which he said would "further strip employees of their workplace protections." He characterized the rule as "another attempt to politicize the civil service and evade accountability" and said, plainly, "We have to stop it."

Wachenshaw said he introduced legislation on his first day in office last September to prevent a president from making major unilateral changes to the federal workforce or eliminating agencies without congressional approval. He further announced that he co-founded the Federal Workforce Caucus with Congressman Steny Hoyer and Senator Chris Van Hollen and said colleagues at the event are founding members. "Together, we're gonna shape a plan to strengthen the merit-based civil service, restore trust in our government, ensure we can recruit, retain, and support the public servants that our country depends on," he said.

The remarks closed with a pledge to pursue legislative and organizational steps through the newly formed caucus; Wachenshaw thanked local officials and staff for organizing the event.