"The rule eliminates the current, often lengthy process for firing senior federal workers who implement policy. The goal "is to ensure that the president has the ability to effect his policy priorities in cooperation with senior management," Office of Personnel Management director Scott Kupor said in a call with reporters Thursday morning. The big picture: The White House has fired or forced out hundreds of thousands of federal employees over the past year - many long regarded as top performers."
"Where it stands: The new rule gives agencies, not the Office of Special Counsel, oversight over whistleblowers. That's potentially a far trickier process for agency employees. A senior OPM official said Thursday that agency officials would be "unbiased" and that there wouldn't be any erosion of the whistleblower process. Friction point: Research looking at the state governments that have adopted similar at-will policies shows it raises the risk that workers are fired for political reasons unrelated to performance, and that it discourages whistleblowing."
The Schedule Policy/Career rule removes the existing, often lengthy process for dismissing senior federal workers who implement policy, allowing agencies to effect personnel changes more quickly. The stated purpose is to ensure the president can advance policy priorities in coordination with senior management, according to OPM leadership. The White House has already removed large numbers of federal employees, including many viewed as strong performers. The rule transfers oversight of whistleblower complaints from the Office of Special Counsel to individual agencies. Evidence from state at-will regimes indicates higher risks of politically motivated firings, reduced whistleblowing, and increased turnover.
Read at Axios
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