Senior civil servants could lose jobs every five years 10 July 2013 Last updated at 02:24 Senior government officials could be moved or lose their jobs every five years under plans to give ministers more control over the civil service. Cabinet office minister Francis Maude will outline proposed changes to the terms of newly appointed permanent secretaries - the most senior officials in government - in a speech later. Mr Maude has said civil service reform is not happening quickly enough. Unions warned against politicising the role of government officials. The changes planned would see some Whitehall staff reporting directly to ministers rather than other civil servants. The most senior officials in each department would be appointed on "fixed tenure appointments" and there would be no presumption that, after five years in the job, their contract would be renewed. It would move the UK civil service closer to the American model where there is a wholesale change of staff whenever a new administration is elected. Permanent civil service The BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins said some in the coalition had been "itching to change a civil service they regard as too slow to respond to their demands." Political neutrality and continuity no matter who is in charge have long been hallmarks of the British civil service. But, while the government will stress the civil service remains impartial, under the coalition's plans ministers' private offices would be bigger and officials will be personally appointed by and report to the secretary of state. Senior public officials trade union the FDA - which represents around 18,000 civil servants - warned Whitehall could be politicised, with mandarins depending on politicians for their careers. Prime Minister David Cameron has charged Mr Maude with reforming the way government departments are run but said last year he did not want to see the system of a "permanent civil service" changed and rejected the idea of moving to a French or American system. One of his most senior advisers left Number 10 in 2012 frustrated that the civil service stifled some of his more radical ideas. Steve Hilton reportedly said British "bureaucracy masters the politicians."