The number of federal workers fired every year by agencies fell from 0.57 percent in FY 2009 to 0.46 percent in 2013, according to data from the Office of Personnel Management and compiled by Federal Times. In comparison, the private sector fires nearly six times as many employees – about 3.2 percent.

However, some agencies fire more than others. Transportation Security Administration employees account for 15 percent of all federal firings, even though they only represent about three percent of the federal population, Federal Times reports.

However, according to John Palguta, vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service, one reason behind the difference is that TSA employees are not granted the same due process rights of other federal employees to contest firings – often for a range of offenses that might result in a mere letter, warning or suspension for other federal employees, such as forming a betting pool or falling asleep on the job.