Legislation drafted by the White House to consolidate twenty-six federal agencies into a new Department of Homeland Security contained provisions which would limit employment protections for DHS employees. During debate on the bill, Congressman Waxman (D-CA) offered an amendment which would have reinstated civil service employment protections for all federal workers who are transferred into the new Department. Progressives endorsed Waxman's amendment because, in their view, DHS employees should have the same employment protections that other federal employees enjoy. Providing the president with the ability to fire or demote federal employees in the new Department, Progressives argued, would give the administration undue leverage over the DHS workforce which might be abused by management. The Waxman proposal was rejected on a 208-220 vote.