THINKING THE UNTHINKABLE IN PUBLIC-ADMINISTRATION - A CASE FOR SPOILSIN THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

This article argues for ending tenure in the federal civil service. Ar guments for tenure, and by extension against the old spoils system, ar e lacking. Even in the 19th century, relatively few federal managers l ost their jobs after party changes. At the same time, limited rotation made the civil service relatively innovative and legitimate. Today, m edia scrutiny more programmatic parties and presidents, and the limite d capacity of the White House suggest that if presidential appointment authority were vastly expanded the results would be modest. Such resu lts as would occur might empower political leaders to accomplish more of their objectives and to remake underperforming organizations, as we ll as empower career managers (who would still exist) to better lead t heir organizations. Each tendency would increase the effectiveness, re presentation and legitimacy of the bureaucracy without necessarily inc reasing corruption. My arguments do not apply to state and local gover nments, which often operate in less competitive political environments .