The Grand Old Party (GOP) also called the republicans, are warning the departing government against moving to career jobs also called "burrowing in." This practice has been ongoing in every power transition.
According to Washington Times, the major concern of the Republicans on "burrowing in" is that political appointees may convert to career jobs for which they are not qualified and have not competed. Sen. Ron Johnson is also concerned that the Obama loyalists about to be displaced might want to join Trump's administration.
In his letter to Beth covert the acting director of Office of Personal Management (OPM), the senator said that there is a need of guarding against inappropriate hiring practices to ensure quality based federal employment and protect the independence of federal civil service.
He also asked for the list of employees who had converted career positions since June, he also asked for continuous updates till when the president elect will take the office.
As reported by Huffington Post, a review by the Government Accountability Office has shown the department of Homeland Security to be leading in conversions. This has brought a concern to Michael T. McCaul, Texas Republican who says "Allowing more Obama appointees to keep jobs next year would be unfair to the next administration."
The office of personnel management, OPM replied to the letter that the agency will take its role in stopping the practice and the agency will routinely investigate, hiring decisions that are counter to the merit system principles upon which OPM was founded.
Statistics between 2010 and 2015 per government auditors, show that there have been 69 conversions among which 17 conversions are not proven by OPM.
Ranging from financial concerns to the employee's desire to have an imprint of the agenda of the coming administration, many theories have been established by experts on why burrowing goes on. Whether Obama appointees will want to serve Trump's government it remains to be seen.
