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4mo ago

Trump Administration Finalizes Rule Reclassifying 50,000 Federal Workers as At-Will Employees

The Office of Personnel Management's new rule, part of Trump's revived Schedule F initiative, removes civil service protections from policy-making roles, drawing union lawsuits and criticism over politicization concerns.

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People attend a rally in support of federal workers outside the 26 Federal Plaza, a federal office building in New York City, U.S., March 25, 2025. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a swearing in ceremony for Dr. Mehmet Oz to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Washington.
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Overview

  • The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) officially published the 'Schedule Policy/Career' rule, reclassifying approximately 50,000 federal employees as at-will workers.
  • The rule targets policy-making roles, allowing agencies to dismiss employees more easily for poor performance, misconduct, or perceived disloyalty to presidential directives.
  • President Trump reinstated and renamed the Schedule F classification via executive order on his first day back in office, reversing Biden-era civil service protections.
  • Federal unions, including AFGE and AFSCME, have filed lawsuits challenging the rule, arguing it undermines the nonpartisan nature of the civil service.
  • The reclassification aligns with Trump's Project 2025 agenda to increase executive control over the federal workforce and reduce government size, a move critics warn could politicize key roles.