Final answer:
The problem with the merit-based civil service system is that it fosters bureaucratic self-interest and job security over responsiveness to political leaders, leading to an entrenched bureaucracy that may not align with current political objectives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Turning the spoils system into a merit-based civil service system through legislation such as the Pendleton Act of 1883 and subsequent Civil Service Reform Acts has had significant consequences. One major issue, as noted by Kenneth Ashworth and other scholars, is that the merit system inadvertently generates new forms of bureaucratic self-interest. Without the connections and loyalties of the patronage system, bureaucracies began to develop their own internal motivations focused on stability and self-preservation, sometimes at the expense of responsiveness to elected leaders and the public will.
This transformation in the federal bureaucracy has been both gradual and expansive. By the 20th century, a vast majority of federal government jobs were filled through an evaluation of applicants' education and skills, with a minority still requiring civil service exams, particularly for specialized or technical knowledge positions. This shift aimed to ensure that the most qualified candidates were awarded government positions, an intended benefit of the merit-based system.
However, a problem created by this system is that bureaucracies have become less responsive to political change and the directives of elected officials, potentially resulting in a government workforce that is more entrenched and less aligned with contemporary political goals and visions.