Trump Issues Executive Order to Reclassify 8,000 Federal Positions
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An executive order signed by President Donald Trump has removed civil service protections for approximately 8,000 high-level federal workers, making them at-will employees.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that alters the civil service status of around 8,000 senior federal workers, converting their roles into at-will positions under a new designation called Schedule Policy/Career. This decision is part of Trump's ongoing efforts to reshape the federal workforce, which he perceives as a barrier to his policy initiatives.
The reclassification includes a range of positions such as directors, chiefs of staff, and senior advisors involved in regulatory drafting and federal grant determinations. According to a White House fact sheet, this new status allows agencies to remove these employees for various reasons, including poor performance and misconduct, without the lengthy procedures typically required for such actions.
This initiative follows Trump's earlier attempt to implement similar staffing changes through the now-revoked Schedule F, which he had introduced at the end of his first term. Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management, emphasized that this approach is designed to enhance accountability and restore the democratic process.
The Schedule Policy/Career designation is currently facing legal challenges, with critics arguing that it undermines essential government functions. Skye Perryman, CEO of Democracy Forward, stated that the ability to dismiss government experts without cause could harm not only federal workers but also the public who depend on their services.