Unless they are political appointees, it is very hard to fire them. You must have documentation out the wazoo to get it done and then it may still not happen. That’s why the unions were & are a bad idea for Federal employees.
Robert, the Holman rule has been reactivated. Federal bureaucrats can be eliminated under this rule. Read about it here:
As part of its broader package of rules for the 115th Congress, the House of Representatives revived the Holman Rule, a provision that allows House members to propose amendments to spending bills that closely manage federal agencies. These “retrenchment” amendments can affect details down to individual federal salaries and the number of staff in an office.
Linky: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/holman-rule-will-help-improve-civil-service/article/2611231