Explore the return of Schedule F and Executive Order 13957. Understand latest move from Trump administration and the impact on federal employees, civil service protections, and the government.
Trump Administration and the Return of Schedule F: Looking at Impact on Federal Government Employees
OPM has recently made a move to bring schedule F back by redefining around 50,000 workers under the pay schedule, which makes them easier to fire and removes other civil service protections. This article aims to review the implications of Schedule F for federal employees and the broader government structure, exploring its origins, potential impacts, and the reactions it has provoked.
Trump Administration’s Recent Move to Revive Schedule F
The resurgence of Schedule F is rooted in the Trump administration’s initial executive order 13957, which sought to reshape the federal workforce. OPM has published final regulations aimed to reclassify certain federal positions, raising concerns among civil servants and unions about job security and the potential for political influence within government. The rule takes affect March 8, effectively defining the selected roles as “schedule policy/career” employees.
Attention from Federal Employees and Agencies
Federal employees and various agencies are keenly observing the unfolding situation surrounding the return of Schedule F. The potential for significant changes to job classifications and civil service protections has spurred widespread attention across the government, prompting discussions and analyses of the possible consequences. While it immediately affects only 2.5% of the federal workforce, the fear is that other career positions could be placed in the new category down the road.
What’s at Stake for the Civil Service with New Rule
The proposed rule could diminish the integrity and stability of the federal civil service. The return of Schedule F threatens to erode established protections for federal employees, potentially transforming career federal employees into at-will employees.
Understanding Schedule F in Federal Employment
The original executive order creating Schedule F was introduced during the first Trump administration with the stated purpose of increasing accountability among federal employees. A similar order was signed in 2025 which also aimed to reclassify certain policy-related positions as part of the excepted service, thus removing them from the traditional competitive service positions afforded civil service protections.
Key Features of Schedule F
A key feature of Schedule F is the removal of Title 5 civil service protections, which traditionally safeguard federal employees. This shift means that government employees reclassified under Schedule F would lose rights to appeal adverse actions and could face diminished job security, becoming more akin to at-will employees.
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Debate Over Revocation in 2021
The original executive order was revoked by the Biden administration, sparking a heated debate. Proponents of the revocation argued that it was necessary to protect the independence of the federal civil service, while critics maintained that Schedule F would have increased accountability and responsiveness within the federal workforce. OPM attempted to implement rules in the spring of 2024 to prevent another Schedule F executive order from being enforced in the future, but the current administration has skirted these rules by calling not calling it “Schedule F” anymore, but “schedule policy career employees.”
The 2025–2026 Reintroduction of Schedule F
President Donald Trump signed executive order 14003 in 2025, which revived the policy known as schedule F. Employees in positions targeted by the new finalized rule could see the impacts by the beginning of March 2026.
Goals: Merit Principles and Accountability
The stated goals included enforcing merit principles, addressing “policy resistance,” and increasing accountability within the federal workforce. The OPM Director argued that some federal employees were not fully implementing the administration’s policies, necessitating stronger management tools like schedule F. This raised concerns among federal employee unions and advocate groups for civil service employees.
Scope of Affected Positions
Thousands of federal workers, with estimates suggesting around 50,000 positions within the federal government, could be reclassified with the creation of schedule f policies. Agency leaders would be tasked with identifying and converting roles into at-will employees with fewer civil service protections.
Changes to Employment Protections
Potential schedule F policies are mainly about making it easier to fire workers from their federal job. Here are other consequences that federal employees could expect if subject to the reclassification under executive authority.
Loss of Title 5 Civil Service Protections
A key change under the new schedule is the loss of Title 5 civil service protections for government employees reclassified under schedule F. Losing Title 5 civil service protections under Schedule F means a federal employee no longer has the job‑security framework that normally applies to career staff. Without those protections, an employee can be removed much more quickly, with fewer procedural steps, and without the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
Federal Worker Appeal Rights and Agency Authority
Employees would lose the right to appeal adverse actions through the MSPB. Whistleblower complaints would be routed to the agency general counsel instead of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Authority is consolidated within agency leadership, impacting federal employees if the reinstatement of Schedule F occurs.
Effective Date and Implementation Details
The effective date for the implementation of these changes was set for March 8, 2026. Federal agencies were to begin identifying and reclassifying federal positions to be moved to the new classification.
Public Comments and Government Employee Union Concerns
The proposed changes under schedule F have faced significant opposition, with 94% of public comments expressing concerns. Unions, such as the National Treasury Employees Union and the American Federation of Government Employees, have voiced strong objections, arguing that schedule F policies undermine federal employee protections and could lead to a politicized federal workforce.
Expected Legal Challenges
Given the widespread opposition, legal challenges to the new schedule F policies are anticipated, potentially leading to injunctions that could delay or halt its implementation in March. Unions and good-government groups are expected to file lawsuits, arguing that having positions moved to schedule F violates federal employee rights and exceeds the authority granted by existing laws.
Implications for Federal Employees
Even though the Biden administration finalized a rule to protect feds from Trump’s schedule F policies – the current administration is likely going to be ruled allowed to remove those rules through the same process.
Who Is Most Likely to Be Affected?
Federal employees in policy-related positions are most likely to be affected by Schedule F, particularly those involved in implementing administration priorities. The OPM and government executive will identify federal positions that could be reclassified, potentially turning career federal employees into at-will employees.
Changes in Job Security and Career Planning
Reclassification under schedule F could significantly impact job security for government employees, as they would lose civil service protections and face greater vulnerability to adverse actions. This uncertainty may prompt federal employees to reevaluate their career plans, seeking positions with greater security or considering alternative career paths.
Remaining Protections for Employees
Despite the changes, some protections will remain for federal employees. Whistleblower protections and protections against discrimination will still apply, providing some recourse against unfair treatment. Employees would still be covered by certain laws and regulations, but the extent of these protections under schedule f remains a subject of debate.
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