Peter Levine, former acting undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, and Elaine C. Duke, former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and undersecretary for management at the department, said career civil servants ensure stability at the departments, which is crucial for national security.

“I am opposed to any decision that has high potential to undermine effective national security policy and operations. And I am concerned Schedule F may just do that,” she said. “My experience leads me to believe that any potential upside to the tempo of producing national security policy from Schedule F is far outweighed by its disruptive downside of less effective policy. This is in the form of less vetted, informed, and comprehensive public policy – therefore less successful public policy.”

Source: AFGE | Lawmakers, Former Political Appointees: Schedule F Threatens National Security