It's about to get easier for Trump to fire federal workers

"In October 2020, President Trump unveiled a plan to grant himself the power to fire vast numbers of civil servants for any reason should they get in the way of his agenda. Five and a half years later, that plan has come to fruition, despite vast public opposition. Starting March 9, an unspecified number of federal employees could lose their current job protections and be converted into at-will employees at Trump's discretion."

"Under current law, the civil service is meant to be apolitical, providing continuity for the government from one presidential administration to another. But over the past year, Trump has shown a willingness and at times an eagerness to fire those career federal employees whom he perceives as political opponents, such as rank-and-file Justice Department attorneys involved in Jan. 6 prosecutions. The rule would make firing such staff much easier."

"Entitled "Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service," it allows for the president to move federal employees in "policy-influencing" roles into a new category of employees called Schedule Policy/Career. OPM previously estimated some 50,000 positions could be reclassified. The rule explains that while federal agencies will review their workforces and ask OPM to recommend positions be moved, the president will make the final call on which positions are reclassified."

A final Office of Personnel Management rule will allow the president to convert an unspecified number of federal employees into at-will positions effective March 9. The rule creates a Schedule Policy/Career category for "policy-influencing" roles and gives the president the final authority to reclassify positions after agency review and OPM recommendation. OPM previously estimated about 50,000 positions could be reclassified. Under current law, the civil service is apolitical and provides continuity between administrations, but the rule would make firing career staff easier. OPM received over 40,000 public comments, 94% opposing the rule, while the administration cited misunderstandings and argued the change improves efficiency and accountability.

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