On June 3, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order that converts nearly 10,000 career federal employees into a new job category known as Schedule Policy/Career, effectively making them at-will employees. This change removes their civil service protections and allows for easier termination of employees in policy-related positions. A senior administration official indicated that the number of employees affected is approximately 8,000, focusing on senior-level career policy officials. Those impacted include agency heads, chief information officers, regional officers, program managers, and senior HR officials.
Schedule F was initially proposed in October 2020 but was not implemented due to the change in administration. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued new regulations in 2024 to complicate the revival of the measure, which was ultimately reinstated under the current administration. The policy is currently facing multiple lawsuits from federal employee unions, alleging violations of the Constitution and other laws. Supporters of the measure argue that it will not introduce political favoritism, while critics express concerns about the potential for increased political influence in federal employment.
Scott Kupor, a senior official, stated that the measure does not impose political tests on employees and aims to ensure that senior officials can effectively implement presidential directives.
