Officials told park leaders that most employees should get a grade of 3, meaning that they had achieved their goals, rather than a 4 or 5, which are for exceeding expectations.
Park Service watchdogs are critical of the move.
“What they’re doing is discarding transparent standards,” said Tim Whitehouse, executive director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. “They’re overriding the professional judgment of those in the field, and they’re undermining the foundations of merit-based civil service.”
