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The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) is calling on Congress to investigate the actions of U.S. Special Counsel Scott Bloch in forcing the involuntary transfers of a dozen career employees of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). The OSC is the federal agency charged with responsibility for protecting the rights of federal employees; it should not be acting in a manner that abuses those rights. Forced involuntary transfers—regardless of the name given to the action—are an improper use of management authority by the Special Counsel.

What’s more, the so-called reorganization under which the transfers are being ordered would, for the first time, have the OSC unit responsible for dealing with enforcement of the Hatch Act reporting to a political appointee rather than a career senior executive. These actions continue a pattern which legitimately gives rise to questions of OSC’s ongoing commitment to meeting its important mission of protecting the rights of federal employees and promoting the merit-based civil service. Congress should act accordingly and promptly.