UPDATE: The Trump administration has just announced a sweeping overhaul of federal employee classifications, making it significantly easier for the president to terminate public employees. Effective immediately, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) revealed changes that create a new “excepted service” category—Schedule Policy/Career—targeting positions that influence policy decisions.
This urgent policy shift will impact the careers of thousands by allowing the president to fire employees in this new category without the usual adverse action procedures or appeal rights. Positions included may range from senior policy analysts to regulatory affairs specialists, all subject to direct presidential control. OPM Director Scott Kupor noted that this change aims to enhance accountability among federal employees.
Critics are raising alarms; about 94 percent of the 40,500 comments received during the public comment period opposed the proposed regulation. Kupor defended the decision, stating that the reclassification is essential for effective governance, arguing, “If their disagreement leads them to then try to actively thwart or undermine the execution of those priorities, then employees in the reclassified policy-related positions could face termination or other discipline.”
This rule will also change the landscape of protections for such employees. The new regulations require agencies to enforce internal policies that protect career employees from reprisals, including whistleblower protections—previously considered standard. This change raises significant concerns over job security and the ability of federal employees to voice concerns without fear of retaliation.
The OPM has received recommendations from federal agency heads to reclassify approximately 50,000 positions, which constitutes about 2 percent of the federal workforce. As the regulation is expected to be published in the Federal Register later today, the implications for federal employees and the broader public sector are profound.
As this developing story unfolds, all eyes will be on how this policy will be implemented and the potential backlash it could generate from federal employees and labor organizations. These changes signal a significant shift in the executive branch’s approach to managing public service, with potential long-term effects on employee morale and federal governance overall.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
