Besides increasing the National Debt by $Trillions, EVERYONE would be able to buy a GUN SILENCER, clamping down on any State Anti-AI Legislation for ten years, and other secret stuff, here’s one that’s hard to read about-

You’ve highlighted a particularly contentious and significant aspect of the “Big Beautiful Tax Bill” that has drawn considerable criticism. Here’s a breakdown of what that provision entails:

The “Salary Surcharge” and “At-Will” Employment Proposal (Section 90002)

Current Federal Civil Service System: Historically, the federal civil service operates on a merit-based system established by the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883. This system was designed to combat the “spoils system” where government jobs were handed out as political favors. Key protections for federal employees include:

• Due Process: Federal employees generally cannot be fired without a stated cause and a formal process, including opportunities to respond to charges and appeal decisions.
• Protection from Political Influence: The system aims to ensure that federal employees are hired, promoted, and retained based on their qualifications and performance, rather than political loyalty or affiliations.
• Stability and Expertise: These protections are intended to foster a professional, non-partisan workforce that can provide continuity and expertise across administrations.

The Proposed Change: The “Big Beautiful Tax Bill” includes a provision (specifically Section 90002 in the House-passed version) that would fundamentally alter this system for new hires.

• Salary Surcharge: New federal employees would face a 9.4% salary surcharge (an additional deduction from their pay) if they wish to retain their traditional civil service protections. This surcharge is ostensibly framed as contributing to their retirement benefits.
• “At-Will” Employment Alternative: If new hires cannot or choose not to pay this 9.4% surcharge, they would be forced into “at-will” employment status. They would then pay a lower retirement deduction (e.g., 4.4% as opposed to 9.4%).

What “At-Will” Employment Means: In “at-will” employment, an employer can terminate an employee for almost any reason, or no reason at all, as long as it’s not illegal (e.g., discriminatory reasons like race, gender, religion). The employee also has the right to leave their job at any time. For federal employees, this would mean:

• Loss of Due Process: They could be fired without a lengthy justification process, formal warnings, or the right to appeal to bodies like the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
• Vulnerability to Political Influence: Critics argue this would make new federal employees highly vulnerable to political pressure and potentially subject to arbitrary dismissals by politically appointed superiors.

Why It’s Controversial:

1. Dismantling the Merit System: Opponents argue this is a direct attack on the long-standing merit-based civil service, designed to create a two-tiered system. One tier would have protections, and the other would be vulnerable, potentially undermining the integrity and independence of the federal workforce.
2. Coercion and Pay Cut: The 9.4% surcharge is seen as an effective pay cut, especially for early-career federal employees who may already earn less than their private-sector counterparts. Many would likely feel coerced into accepting at-will status due to financial constraints, thus relinquishing their rights. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reportedly estimates that three-quarters of new hires would likely be driven into at-will status.
3. Impact on Recruitment and Retention: Critics argue that this measure would make it harder to attract and retain talented individuals in federal service, as the appeal of job security and professional protections would be diminished.
4. Undermining Unions: Without civil service protections, federal employee unions would have significantly less power to represent their members, as at-will employees would be less likely to file grievances or challenge unfair practices for fear of immediate termination.
5. Political Weaponization: There are concerns that this provision sets a dangerous precedent, allowing future administrations to rapidly replace significant portions of the federal workforce with politically aligned individuals, regardless of their qualifications or performance. This echoes historical “spoils system” concerns.
6. Revenue vs. Policy Goal: While the surcharge is presented as contributing to retirement benefits, the actual revenue it would generate is relatively small compared to the overall cost of the tax cuts in the bill. This leads many to believe the primary goal is not revenue generation but rather a fundamental shift in the nature of federal employment.

In essence, this civil service change is viewed by its critics not just as a budget-saving measure, but as a deliberate effort to reshape the federal bureaucracy by significantly weakening job security and making it more susceptible to political influence.

The Big Beautiful Tax Bill is an ABOMINATION! Does anyone care that the Government is HAVING MAJOR Issues Selling America’s Debt? If Debtors don’t Buy Our Debt, We’re Stuck Like Chuck with No Money in the Kitty. Then Programs will be Cut. Less money to go around. SSN and Medicaid payments would be drastically cut.