Louisiana Civil Service Commission Blocks Gov. Landry’s Effort to Remove Job Protections
The administration argued that the change would improve hiring flexibility, attract top talent, and address government inefficiencies. However, concerns over political influence and constitutional issues ultimately led to the commission’s rejection.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. Jeff Landry’s proposal to strip civil service protections from 900 state employees faced a major setback Wednesday when the Louisiana State Civil Service Commission rejected the plan in a 4-2 vote.
The proposal aimed to reclassify 394 attorney positions and 506 engineering jobs from classified to unclassified status, making them at-will appointments. The administration argued that the change would improve hiring flexibility, attract top talent, and address government inefficiencies. However, concerns over political influence and constitutional issues ultimately led to the commission’s rejection.
Push for Reform Meets Resistance
Louisiana’s civil service system provides job security by requiring cause for termination and barring classified employees from political activity. It is designed to prevent political patronage but has faced criticism for limiting accountability.
“We’ve heard from so many about the difficulty of recruiting,” said Patrick Goldsmith, deputy commissioner of the Division of Administration. “This move would help stop the brain drain from Louisiana.”
Special Counsel Emily Andrews echoed the sentiment, stating that unclassifying certain positions would enhance recruitment and retention efforts.
Despite these arguments, Commissioner Codi Plaisance warned that the proposal could introduce instability and political influence, particularly in roles like transportation engineering, which directly impact public safety.
Constitutional Concerns
Commissioner Scott Hughes raised concerns about whether the proposal aligns with Louisiana’s civil service rules under the state Constitution.
“Maybe the time has come to ask the people what system you want,” Hughes said, suggesting that any fundamental changes to civil service protections should go before voters.
Following the commission’s rejection, Landry’s spokesperson Kate Kelly stated, “Commissioner Hughes essentially said legislation to explore whether the classified civil service system is still sustainable in today’s employment environment is the best way to proceed so that the people could weigh in.”
What Would Have Changed?
A memorandum from the Civil Service Commission dated Jan. 29 detailed the proposed shift of the 900 positions to unclassified status, allowing for at-will employment. Under this structure, affected employees could be fired without cause and would be permitted to engage in political activity.
The change would have applied uniformly across all state agencies and local governments, with the new policy set to take effect on July 1 for new hires. Current employees would have retained their classified status, but their positions would become unclassified as vacancies arose.
The memo also noted that while some argue unclassified employees are more productive due to their at-will status, this perspective remains largely anecdotal rather than based on empirical data.
Commission’s Final Vote
Hughes, who described the decision as “the hardest one” in his 14 years on the commission, expressed frustration with the rushed timeline.
“We’re trying to move at the speed of business,” Goldsmith said, repeating a phrase often used by Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois.
“The governor has challenged us: How do we think differently?” he added.
Despite the administration’s push, the commission’s vote means civil service protections remain in place—at least for now. Future legislative efforts could determine whether the issue will ultimately be decided by Louisiana voters.
