In a massive step, President Donald Trump’s Schedule F policy is shaking up the federal civil service by reclassifying about 50,000 employees.
See the tweet below!
This move, hailed by many as an attempt to streamline and increase accountability, aims to allow quicker removal of government workers who don’t align with administration policies or perform poorly and reform the “deep state” bureaucracy.
The executive order signed by Trump and published in the Federal Register reclassifies federal employees into the “Schedule Policy/Career” category.
This decision makes it easier for the administration to remove individuals who do not fulfill its policy goals.
Trump’s initiative is part of a broader plan led by the Heritage Foundation, termed Project 2025, aimed at reshaping the federal workforce.
Critics, including the American Federation of Government Employees, express concern that the move could undermine government effectiveness.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, criticized the move as a deliberate attempt to corrupt the federal government and replace qualified public servants with political cronies.
This aligns with fears that Schedule F could chill whistleblowing and foster political loyalty over competence in federal roles.
Despite opposition, the Trump administration argues that accountability is paramount.
The Office of Personnel Management has supported this change to streamline the removal process and reduce inefficiencies related to the lengthy process of firing federal employees, which currently can take up from six months to a year.
“If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job. This is common sense, and will allow the federal government to finally be ‘run like a business,’” Trump declared, cited by AP News.
Notably, past efforts similar to Schedule F faced opposition and were reversed by President Joe Biden, who reinstated protections for federal workers.
However, Trump’s reinstatement on Inauguration Day has renewed this contentious revision of federal employment policies.
The White House estimates about 50,000 positions could change under Schedule F, a figure experts believe may be conservative.
As agencies prepare to submit lists of employees for reclassification, the broader ramifications of this policy remain a significant subject of debate.
“Public policy professor Don Moynihan from the University of Michigan stated that Schedule F undermines the purpose of a nonpartisan civil service and imposes loyalty tests, a characteristic of authoritarian regimes,” reports PBS.
The battle over Schedule F highlights the continuing divide between calls for increased government accountability and concerns over maintaining the nonpartisan nature of civil service.
As Trump’s initiatives unfold, the impact on federal governance and employee rights remains to be seen.
Trump Reclassifies Federal Workers with 'Schedule F'
This change, known as 'Schedule F,' aims to facilitate the removal of federal workers who fail to advance the President’s policy agenda. Critics argue this move undermines civil service protections, potentially turning…
— Mike Klonsky (@mikeklonsky) April 19, 2025
