The Trump administration is pushing forward with a plan to make it easier to fire certain federal employees. This move aims to reduce the size of the federal workforce and increase control over it. Recently, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposed a new rule that would classify tens of thousands of career civil servants as "at-will" employees. This change would strip away some civil service protections, making it simpler to remove these workers from their positions.
The White House stated that the proposed rule is meant to address what they describe as "unaccountable" federal employees who prioritize their own interests over those of the American public. President Trump and his supporters, including billionaire Elon Musk, have been vocal about their desire to dismantle what they call government bureaucracy, often referring to it as a "deep state." They claim, without providing evidence, that the government is filled with corrupt officials and employees who do not contribute to its functions. Trump believes that his administration should have more power to hire and fire people based on their loyalty to his agenda.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that federal workers who do not support his policy goals or engage in corrupt practices should lose their jobs. The effort to remove civil service protections began on Trump’s first day back in office, with an executive order aimed at reinstating a previous order he signed in 2020. This earlier order was quickly rescinded by President Biden. The latest initiative rebrands the previous Schedule F as Schedule Policy/Career, affecting an estimated 50,000 employees, or about 2% of federal workers.
The White House explains that this new classification will apply to employees involved in making or influencing policy. Once finalized, the rule will allow federal agencies to remove these employees more swiftly for poor performance, misconduct, or failure to follow presidential directives.
The American Federation of Government Employees has filed a lawsuit against the administration to protect civil service workers. Their president, Everett Kelley, criticized the proposed changes, warning that they would undermine the merit-based hiring system that is essential for a professional civil service.
This proposed rule is part of a broader pattern of sweeping changes within the federal government. Trump has already shuttered some agencies and initiated mass firings, targeting employees he perceives as disloyal. This includes dismissing numerous officials from the Justice Department involved in investigations related to him. As the administration moves forward, the implications for federal workers and the overall structure of government remain significant.