I'm definitely not a Democrat. However, federal slots, much like private slots, are usually eliminated by downsizing or attrition. The 'legal hassles', while less in private business, are still great should a terminated employee CLAIM 'wrongful termination'.
Usually a federal employee, liked a tenured professor, must be terminated for CAUSE. Because of multiple levels of supervision and regulation, most government employees can find some directive or regulation that supports whatever action they took that management dismissed them for. (i.e., if a supervisor instructs a worker that an inspection task must take no more than 45 seconds, who is 'at fault' when at 45 seconds the inspector stops inspecting, and 'weapons' get by undetected?
It doesn't matter who the inspectors are, IMHO, if inspection guidelines, like immigration guidelines, are not followed because of expediency and time pressure. Value judgments are made every day in our lives, some with disastrous consequences.
Saying employees CANNOT be fired is incorrect; but, any person fired is usually seen as a 'victim' in today's PC environment. Most supervisors and their legal advisors and insurance providers SAY SETTLE, it will cost more to fight. Therefore, with each passing day, more and more wrong is accepted as right--while service, security, education, and freedom decline.
That's a myth. Civil Service employees can and do get fired.
Every policeman and fireman in this country is a civil service employee.
Would you feel safer if the regular city police force were doing airport screening or a private contractor were doing the screening.
I will go with the gov't employee every time.