New Schedule F Rule Vastly Expands Trump Authority to Fire Federal Workers
Administration implements long-sought policy allowing dismissal of career civil servants
The Schedule F policy reclassifies certain federal positions from career civil service to at-will employment, removing traditional job protections that have existed for over a century.
The rule affects employees in policy-influencing positions across the federal government. Critics argue it will politicize the civil service, while supporters say it will increase accountability and responsiveness to elected leadership.
The original Schedule F executive order was issued during Trump's first term but was rescinded by President Biden. The current rule represents a more comprehensive implementation of the policy.
Analysis
Why This Matters
The civil service system has provided job protections to prevent political purges since the 1880s. This represents the most significant change to those protections in generations.
Background
Schedule F was first proposed in 2020 but never fully implemented. It aims to give the president greater control over bureaucratic decision-making.
What to Watch
Legal challenges are expected, and the impact on federal workforce morale and retention could be significant.