ATR Endorses Rep. Loudermilk’s “MERIT Act”

Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist sent a letter to members of Congress today urging them to cosponsor H.R. 687, the “Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act.”

The MERIT Act was introduced by Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) last month alongside 15 original cosponsors. The bill aims to streamline the process by which poorly performing federal employees and bureaucrats engaged in misconduct can be removed by agencies. Through reforms to the federal workforce, the MERIT Act would make the government more efficient and save taxpayers money.

Read the full letter here or below:

---

February 6, 2025

Dear Members of Congress,

I write in support of H.R. 687, the “Modern Employment Reform, Improvement, and Transformation (MERIT) Act,” which was recently reintroduced by Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.). This bill seeks to reform the ability of federal agencies to remove inefficient, poorly performing employees and those engaged in misconduct.

Americans for Tax Reform endorsed this bill in previous sessions of Congress, and I applaud Rep. Loudermilk for his reintroduction in the 119th Congress.

Americans for Tax Reform urges all members of Congress to co-sponsor the MERIT Act of 2025.

An inefficient federal workforce, weighed down with a bloated bureaucracy, is unable to implement the policies needed for the economy to realize its full potential. Current federal practice is to promote or transfer poorly performing employees, as it can take more than 300 days to remove bad employees due to the myriad red tape associated with the disciplinary process. Too many members of the bureaucracy have realized they can use the system to protect their jobs, even when engaged in bad behavior, poor performance, or criminal activity.

Every day, the initiatives of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reveal why legislation like the MERIT Act is so important. It is far beyond time that Congress upholds the high standards for federal workforce performance that our nation is calling for.

The MERIT Act shortens the disciplinary process for federal employees to less than 30 days and extends the probationary period, giving agencies the tools to ensure employees are capable of doing their jobs. The bill would also allow managers to recoup bonuses from employees who were later found to commit workplace violations and would reduce retirement benefits for employees who are removed based on a felony conviction.

Americans for Tax Reform strongly supports the MERIT Act because U.S. taxpayers should only pay for competent, law-abiding federal employees. The MERIT Act improves efficiency of the federal workforce and ensures taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

All members of Congress should co-sponsor the MERIT Act of 2025.

Onward,

Grover Norquist

President, Americans for Tax Reform