Editing Merit system (section)

=== Consequences of performance assessment ===
As the United States has become anti-bureaucratic, it has moved away from the outdated depiction of merit system. Twenty-eight states have established an 'at will' employment environment where civil service employees can be fired at any time without cause. In 2014 the Department of Veteran Affairs became overwhelmed with problems with scheduling appointments. Congress called for immediate action and ordered the Department of Veteran Affairs to lay off 'miscreant' employees. [[Donald F. Kettl]] explores in his work, ''The Merit Principle in Crisis'', whether 'At will' practices and whether they're beneficial to the bureaucratic practices of the government. Kettl states that due to an increase in government programs, firing 'miscreant' bureaucratic employees would only 'weaken the government's ability to steer'.<ref>Kettl, Donald F. "The Merit Principle In Crisis." ''Governance'' 28.4 (2015): 421-424. ''Business Source Complete''. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.</ref>