President Trump’s bold move to reclassify federal employees signals a seismic shift in government accountability. On Friday, he announced via Truth Social that approximately 50,000 career government workers involved in policy roles will become “Schedule Policy/Career” or at-will employees. This decision aims to ensure federal workers align with his administration’s agenda.
Fox News reported that the executive order, titled “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce,” reclassifies about 2% of the federal workforce. These new regulations target civil service employees with significant policy-making or confidential duties.
The White House emphasized that the change allows agencies to swiftly remove employees for poor performance or failure to follow presidential directives.
Affected workers are not required to personally endorse the president but must faithfully execute the administration’s policies.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will issue new civil service regulations to enforce this reclassification. However, the rule won’t alter employees’ job status until a subsequent executive order is issued.
Trump’s announcement underscores his commitment to rooting out inefficiency in the federal government. “If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, they should no longer have a job,” he declared. This stance reflects a broader push to run the government with business-like discipline.
Reclassified employees will lose access to adverse action procedures or appeals, reversing protections established under the Biden administration.
The White House stated that this change targets misconduct, corruption, or subversion of presidential directives. The policy aims to hold policy-influencing employees to the highest standards of conduct.
The Trump administration has already taken steps to reduce the federal workforce. Recent efforts include actively terminating employees to shrink government size. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has played a key role in these initiatives.
Opposition to the administration’s actions has surfaced. In February, protesters gathered outside the OPM to support federal workers facing potential termination. These rallies highlight growing tensions over the administration’s aggressive workforce reforms.
Legal challenges have also emerged. A federal judge recently ordered a halt to terminations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This ruling reflects pushback against the administration’s efforts to streamline federal agencies.
The Supreme Court has weighed in on related matters, issuing a ruling on the status of thousands of fired probationary employees. This decision underscores the broader legal battles surrounding federal employment policies. The outcome of these cases could shape the implementation of Trump’s reclassification plan.
Trump’s executive order aligns with his vision of a leaner, more responsive government. “This is common sense, and will allow the federal government to finally be ‘run like a business,’” he stated. The policy targets employees who wield significant influence over policy outcomes.
The reclassification does not require employees to share the president’s personal views. Instead, it demands loyalty to the lawful execution of his agenda. This distinction aims to balance professional duty with administrative accountability.
The OPM’s estimate of 50,000 affected workers highlights the scale of this reform. These employees, representing a small but influential portion of the workforce, hold roles critical to policy development. Their reclassification could reshape how federal agencies operate.
The full impact of the reclassification awaits another executive order. Until then, affected employees retain their current job status. This delay allows agencies to prepare for the transition to at-will employment.
Trump’s push for accountability resonates with conservatives seeking a more efficient government. By targeting policy-influencing roles, the administration aims to eliminate bureaucratic resistance to its agenda. This move could set a precedent for future workforce reforms.