At Will

A government workforce that can be fired for any reason is a government workforce that serves one man.

Wednesday, Donald Trump signed an executive order stripping civil service protections from roughly 8,000 career federal workers.

He placed them in a new category called Schedule Policy/Career.

They are now at-will employees. Their agencies can fire them for any reason. They cannot appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board nor can they challenge the reclassification itself.

As of 2024, the entire federal government held about 1,600 political appointees outside civil service protection. Wednesday’s order creates five times that number at once.

Trump created this category in his first term calling it “Schedule F.” He left office before reclassifying anyone into it.

These workers are directors and chiefs of staff. They oversee federal grants. They write the regulations.

The Office of Personnel Management first estimated as many as 50,000 positions could qualify. The administration has not ruled out expanding the pool.

Scott Kupor, who runs that office, called the change a restoration of the democratic process.

A government workforce that can be fired for any reason is a government workforce that serves one man.