Workforce

A time machine tour of civil service reform

COMMENTARY | From Washington to Trump, every era has redefined the rules of federal employment. If you could set the clock, which version of the merit system would you choose?

Workforce

Federal workforce advocates flood opposition to renewed Schedule F

With just a day remaining before the deadline to submit comments on the Trump administration’s proposed Schedule F regulations, the vast majority of more than 30,000 submissions were opposed to the measure.

Workforce

Congressional Dems urge rescission of Schedule F regulations

Though the Office of Personnel Management has estimated around 50,000 federal employees, or 2% of the workforce, would be stripped of their civil service protections under the controversial initiative, lawmakers warned a failure to define "policy-related” positions will cause far more to become at-will employees.

Exclusive Workforce

Connolly demands rescission of regulations reviving Schedule F

The top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee warned that politicization of the federal workforce will lead to more instances of “incompetence” in government.

Workforce

Dudek calls for entire SSA offices to be converted to new Schedule F

The planned conversions, intended for federal workers in policy-related positions, affect employees making as little as $40,000 per year.

Workforce

OPM proposes rule to formally revive Schedule F

The federal government’s dedicated HR agency estimates that 50,000 federal workers will be stripped of their civil service protections and become at-will employees.

Exclusive Management

Some agencies are notifying employees of their ‘Schedule F’ status

Agencies are submitting lists of employees who will lose civil service protections and some are taking a broad approach.

Breaking News Management

Russ Vought, champion of Schedule F and slashing agency budgets, wins confirmation to OMB

Trump's pick for budget chief was confirmed by the Senate after Democrats held the floor for a full day to speak in opposition to him.

Workforce

New Schedule F guidance shows the Trump White House is rearing for a fight

Trump administration officials elected to bypass the regulatory process to rescind Biden-era rules aimed at barring Schedule F’s revival, setting up a bigger fight over the president's authority.

Workforce

How a pair of executive orders and a memo could fast track the civil service’s politicization

Good government experts warn that President Trump’s revival of Schedule F, inserting new criteria into the hiring process and demand for a list of all feds who are still on their probationary period portend a mass firing of career workers as the new administration seeks to reshape the federal bureaucracy.

Updated Workforce

Trump: Agencies should fire 'all' bureaucrats

Atop the president’s anticipated actions this week are executive orders moving to reinstate Schedule F, reduce unions’ bargaining rights and broad rollbacks of telework at federal agencies.

Management

Trump’s pick for OMB chief defends removing civil service protections, withholding appropriated funds

Russ Vought laments "weaponized bureaucracies" as he draws bipartisan criticism for declining to commit to following spending laws.

Management

OPM officials tout agency’s transformation under Biden

Leaders at the federal government’s dedicated HR agency said the organization has come a long way since being targeted for elimination by the first Trump administration.

Workforce

Last-ditch effort to block Schedule F’s return thwarted by Senate Republicans

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., sought unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass the Saving the Civil Service Act, but his motion was opposed by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.

Management

Will civil service protections hold up against RFK Jr.’s threats to the federal public health workforce?

Kennedy, Trump’s pick to lead HHS, has talked openly about removing swaths of civil servants at FDA and NIH.

Workforce

Schedule F 2.0...can it be that bad?

COMMENTARY | "Is it the 'end of democracy as we know it' bad?" asks one former federal official.

Workforce

Trump expected to tap Schedule F architect promising widespread federal layoffs to head OMB

Russ Vought previously held the job and now says he wants federal workers to be "viewed as the villains."

Workforce

Key lawmakers back Trump's plans to remove federal workers

GOP leaders say they will back the president-elect's efforts to strip civil-service protections.

Workforce

Feds brace for return of Trump personnel policies

Federal employee unions sought to balance reassuring members that they will fight the return of measures undermining feds’ civil service protections with asserting their commitment to nonpartisan service.