The Office of Personnel Management has issued a new rule making it more difficult to fire federal employees, in response to former President Donald Trump’s Schedule F order that sought to reclassify federal workers and reduce their job security protections. The Biden administration nullified Schedule F upon taking office, but the new rule aims to prevent future administrations from making similar changes. The rule clarifies procedural requirements for reclassifying federal employees and ensures that civil service protections accrued by employees cannot be taken away, regardless of job type. It also specifies that policymaking classifications apply to noncareer, political appointees.
Good government groups and activists have praised the new rule, emphasizing the importance of protecting federal workers from arbitrary removal by partisan administrations. The rule is seen as a countermeasure against Project 2025, a plan by former Trump administration officials and conservative groups to replace government employees with more ideologically-aligned individuals. Critics, however, such as Kentucky Rep. James Comer, have criticized the rule as an attempt by the Biden administration to insulate the federal workforce from accountability and undermine Americans’ confidence in their government. Comer has pledged to continue conducting oversight of the federal workforce and exploring legislation to increase accountability.
The new rule has received support from nearly 30 advocacy organizations, with the president and CEO of Democracy Forward calling it a strong defense against anti-democratic groups. The rule, which runs 237 pages, is set to formally take effect next month after being published in the federal registry. While the rule has faced opposition from some conservative organizations, it has garnered support from a majority of public comments. If Trump were to win another term, his administration could direct the Office of Personnel Management to draft new rules, but the process would require detailed explanation and could face legal challenges.
The Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management, Rob Shriver, emphasized that the new rule ensures federal employee protections cannot be erased by technical procedures, as attempted in Schedule F. Shriver highlighted the dedication of federal workers to serving the American people, regardless of their personal political beliefs. The rule aims to safeguard the professionalism and expertise of federal workers in carrying out their responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of their commitment to serving the public. The rule serves to protect federal workers from partisan interference and ensure the continuity and effectiveness of government operations.
