Trump Reclassifies 50,000 Federal Workers, Easing Dismissal Procedures
President Trump plans to reclassify 50,000 federal employees as at-will workers, reducing their protections and making it easier to terminate their employment.
Summary
The Trump administration is advancing a plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal employees under Schedule F, effectively stripping many of their civil service protections. This controversial move, described by Trump as a means to enhance accountability and reduce 'deep state' influence, facilitates the termination of employees deemed noncompliant with the administration's agenda. Labor unions and critics argue that the reclassification undermines merit-based hiring and could politicize federal roles, provoking lawsuits from employee rights advocates. The change reflects the broader goals of Trump's conservative Project 2025 initiative as he seeks to reshape the federal workforce.
Sources (4)
- Trump's new rule allows firings of federal employees for not adhering to the President's policies, promoting a politically aligned workforce.
- The policy serves Trump's agenda to root out perceived opposition within the federal government, expanding the executive's power over civil servants.
- The move is seen as a threat to democracy and worker protections, echoing concerns about eroding independent civil service roles.
The Guardian·1M· "…The latest rule comes on top of the Trump administration’s ongoing quest to root out of the federal government all priorities, and the personnel who carried them out, with which Trump disagrees."