Chicago – February 05, 2026
The Trump administration finalized a major overhaul of the U.S. civil service system on Thursday, stripping job protections from up to 50,000 career federal employees in policy-influencing roles. This move, announced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), reclassifies these workers into a new “Schedule Policy/Career” category, making them at-will employees easier to hire and fire.
The policy revives elements of Trump’s previous “Schedule F” initiative from his first term, which was rescinded by President Biden in 2021 and reinforced in 2024. OPM states the change addresses supervisors’ difficulties in removing poor performers or those subverting presidential directives, estimating impacts on about 2% of the 2.3 million federal workforce. It follows significant workforce reductions, with over 352,000 departures in 2025 amid layoffs and early retirements.
Federal unions and advocacy groups, including Democracy Forward, condemned the rule as an assault on civil service protections and plan immediate legal challenges. The administration argues it enhances accountability and democratic responsiveness without promoting patronage. This represents the largest civil service change in over a century.
