Amanda Terkel noted, Perry was incorrect in stating that federal civil service workers cannot be fired.

More importantly, it would probably be illegal to punish workers who do not share his "vision." Title 5 of the United States Code bans discrimination against federal employees for personal conduct which which does not affect on-the-job performance.

Monica Goodling, the Justice Department’s White House Liason under President George W. Bush, admitted to Congress in 2007 that she had engaged in the "illegal" practice of making hiring decisions based on political ideology.

"With regard to requests from interim U.S. Attorneys to hire [Assistant U.S. Attorneys], we determined that in two instances Goodling considered the candidate’s political or ideological affiliations when she assessed the request," an Office of Inspector General special report found in 2008.

In one case, an experienced career terrorism prosecutor was rejected by Goodling "because of his wife’s political affiliations."

Goodling was never prosecuted because she was granted immunity in exchange for her testimony.