The U.S. government’s civil service system underwent a significant transformation as the Donald Trump administration finalized an overhaul, giving the president authority over the hiring and firing of around 50,000 career federal employees. This change, which fulfills a campaign promise to remove job protections deemed to influence government policy, was announced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Referred to as the “Schedule F” overhaul, this move marks the most substantial adjustment to civil service rules in over a century. Although initially planned during Trump’s first term, the initiative faced delays due to the 2020 election outcome. Under the finalized policy, Trump will have the discretion to designate government positions that will lose their job protections.
Legal scrutiny awaits the new policy as federal worker unions and their supporters had earlier filed lawsuits to halt its development. The litigation was temporarily paused while the Trump administration completed the changes, and a court challenge is set to resume soon, according to Skye Perryman of Democracy Forward.
OPM Director Scott Kupor emphasized that the revamped system aims to ensure taxpayer funds support a workforce delivering efficient and quality services. Despite claims of cost savings, recent budget data reveals an increase in federal salary expenditures under Trump’s second term compared to his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden.
While the final rule prohibits political favoritism and loyalty tests, Democrats in Congress and departing employees have contested these assertions. Instances of firing career personnel linked to investigations involving Trump have raised concerns about backlogs and staff shortages within government agencies.
The OPM projected a reduction of 317,000 federal jobs by fiscal 2025, resulting in the lowest federal workforce levels in a decade. Trump’s efforts to downsize the government have been met with criticism and legal challenges, with the Heritage Foundation advocating for significant administrative restructuring if he secured a second term.
Contrary to claims of a bloated public service, OECD data suggests the U.S. public sector employs a lower percentage of the workforce compared to the international average. Trump’s initiatives to reduce federal staff levels, including enlisting Elon Musk’s assistance, have faced backlash and accusations of conflicts of interest.
Various federal agencies experienced workforce reductions, with some losing over a quarter of their staff. Lawsuits from worker unions and allies contesting terminations are ongoing, reflecting ongoing resistance to the administration’s changes. The Trump administration also aims to modify whistleblower protections, allowing agencies to handle such disclosures internally, departing from the previous oversight by the Office of the Special Counsel.