Trump administration expands politicization of civil service

The Trump administration announced a final rule creating a new category of federal workers who would have fewer job protections and be easier to fire. The new rule implements an Executive Order from 2025 that could diminish or eliminate venerated due process protections for 50,000 employees at federal agencies. The creation of the new category was expected as President Trump seeks to create a civil service more responsive to his political goals.

Final rule creates new category

The final rule from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) creates the Schedule Policy/Career category for “career positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making or policy advocating character.” These positions don’t normally change with administrations.

Under the new rule, workers in the new schedule will be at-will employees without access to the appeals process other federal workers have for adverse actions taken against them. The OPM said the rule will make the federal workforce more accountable by making it easier for agencies to fire workers “who engage in misconduct, perform poorly or obstruct the democratic process by intentionally subverting presidential directives.”

Due process rights diminished, White House in direct control