Federal Grant Makers May Lose Job Protections: 5 Things to Know

"Employees moved into Schedule Policy/Career will be at-will workers, lacking key federal civil service protections. Workers moved into the new category won't be protected by "adverse action" and "performance-based action" procedures, which provide many federal employees due process protections against firing and other punishments."

"The final rule says federal research funding agencies, such as the NIH and the National Science Foundation, can-with presidential approval-move employees involved in federal grant making into this less protected group of workers. That has fed worries that the administration will further politicize billions of dollars in research funding."

"The policy, released for public comment last spring, has prompted vocal pushback. By the OPM's own count, 94 percent of the more than 40,500 public comments it received opposed the plan."

The Trump administration implemented Schedule Policy/Career, a controversial new federal employee classification that removes job protections and due process rights for affected workers. This policy, which received opposition from 94 percent of over 40,500 public comments, allows federal research agencies like the NIH and NSF to reclassify employees as at-will workers with presidential approval. Researchers and advocacy groups worry this change will make federal grant-making employees vulnerable to political pressure and easier termination, potentially politicizing billions in research funding. The policy represents part of broader efforts to reshape the federal workforce through mass layoffs and reduced civil service protections across multiple agencies.

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