Trump Signs Executive Order Affecting 8,000 Federal Workers' Employment Status

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 3, 2026, that removes civil service protections from approximately 8,000 senior federal policy workers, allowing agencies to terminate these employees without the usual procedural requirements. This new designation, called Schedule Policy/Career, includes positions such as directors, chiefs of staff, and policy analysts. According to a White House fact sheet, agencies can remove employees in this category for reasons including poor performance or misconduct without lengthy procedures. Critics argue that this move politicizes federal employment, and several lawsuits are currently challenging the reclassification. The executive order follows previous attempts to shift federal personnel to at-will status, which were reversed by former President Joe Biden but have been revived by Trump.