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President Trump signed an executive order on June 3, 2026, reclassifying approximately 8,000 federal employees into a new employment category called Schedule Policy/Career, stripping them of civil service protections that have shielded the federal workforce from political interference for over a century.
Quick Facts
- 8,000 federal employees affected by the executive order signed Wednesday
- 97% of affected positions are GS-15 level or above, the highest civil service rank
- Employees will become at-will workers with no right to appeal terminations
- Original estimate projected 50,000 positions; final order covers only 8,000
What Schedule Policy/Career Means for Federal Employees
Under the new classification, the 8,000 reclassified employees will lose the ability to appeal disciplinary actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board, a quasi-judicial agency that has historically protected federal workers’ due process rights. They can now be fired for any reason or no reason at all, without the formal procedures that have governed federal employment since the late 19th century.
These are senior-level positions including agency deputy directors, chiefs of staff, regional office leaders, senior program managers, and policy officials across federal agencies. The Trump administration argues the change will improve accountability and allow the president to implement his policy agenda more effectively. “It’s also about a restoration, in our mind, of the democratic process,” Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor told reporters on Wednesday.
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However, affected employees will retain certain protections. The order explicitly prohibits loyalty tests and political discrimination, and whistleblower protections remain in place under federal law—though enforcement now falls to individual agencies rather than independent oversight boards. Employees will also lose eligibility for student loan repayment options and recruitment or relocation incentives.
Historical Context and Legal Challenges
The move culminates a decades-long debate over the structure of the federal workforce. Civil service protections were enacted starting in the late 1800s after President James Garfield’s assassination by a disgruntled jobseeker, establishing a merit-based system insulated from political patronage. The federal government currently has about 4,000 political appointees who serve at the president’s pleasure; this order would nearly triple that number of at-will employees.
The reclassification is already facing legal challenges. Democracy Forward, the American Federation of Government Employees, and other organizations have filed lawsuits arguing that Schedule Policy/Career violates due process rights, exceeds presidential authority, and contradicts the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. “When government experts can be fired without cause, it’s not just federal workers who are harmed—it’s the people across the country who rely on these essential services every day,” said Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward.
Trump attempted a similar policy during his first term, issuing an executive order for “Schedule F” in October 2020, but it went largely unimplemented and was quickly rescinded under the Biden administration. The Biden administration later issued regulations in 2024 attempting to reinforce civil service protections and block Schedule F from resurfacing. The Trump administration has since rescinded that rule and issued its own regulations on Schedule Policy/Career.
Why the Smaller Number Than Expected
The 8,000 positions affected represent a significant reduction from earlier estimates. The Office of Personnel Management initially proposed reclassifying approximately 50,000 positions, with some earlier estimates suggesting as many as 200,000 could be converted. Experts suggest the Trump administration may be starting with more defensible, senior policy-making roles to strengthen its legal position before potentially expanding the program.
“By starting with more defensible policy-making roles, they are more likely to win in court,” Don Moynihan, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, wrote in analysis of the February 2026 final rule. “Once they do, and the rule is cemented as law, they can always broaden its reach, deeper and deeper into the administration.” The Trump administration has not ruled out expanding the pool at a later time. Agencies have seven days to update personnel records for the affected employees.
Critics argue that removing job protections will discourage experienced federal workers from sharing bad news with policymakers and damage the government’s ability to attract and retain talent. “If you were a career civil servant and there is bad news that you want to share with the president, you’re less likely to do so if you think, ‘The minute I share that bad news, I’m going to get fired,'” Moynihan said. Meanwhile, other states are moving in the opposite direction, expanding worker protections.
Sources
- NPR — Detailed reporting on the executive order, affected employee categories, and legal challenges from multiple organizations
- Federal News Network — Comprehensive breakdown of Schedule Policy/Career implementation, OPM Director Scott Kupor’s statements, and union and advocacy group responses
- The White House — Official executive order and fact sheet on the policy
