Overview

• Eight Democratic senators led by Sen. Patty Murray sent a letter to OPM acting director Charles Ezell on May 28 seeking salary and job description details for Schedule C hires at the highest pay grade.
• The April 10 OPM memo directed agencies to offer up to $195,200—the top Schedule C salary tier—to political appointees without standard human resources review.
• Senators warn that the directive and the administration’s sweeping layoffs signal a shift from career public service to rewarding political allies with taxpayer funds.
• The government laid off 216,215 workers in March, bringing total federal job cuts to 279,445 within the first three months of the Trump administration.
• The senators have given Ezell until June 4 to comply with their request, warning they will pursue further oversight if their inquiry is not answered.