Trump unveils plan to reclassify 50,000 federal workers, allowing easier firings

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday his plan to reclassify approximately 50,000 federal workers under a new category, "Schedule Policy/Career," which would make it easier to fire civil servants who do not align with his administration's policy agenda.

This move is part of Trump's broader strategy to overhaul the federal workforce and push forward his policy priorities.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained that following his Day One Executive Order, the Office of Personnel Management will introduce new regulations for career government employees. Under the new classification, civil servants involved in policy-related work will be subject to higher standards of conduct and performance.

This plan revives and expands Trump’s previous "Schedule F" initiative, which sought to strip civil service protections from employees in policy roles. According to a White House memo, the new rule would impact roughly 50,000 employees, or about 2% of the federal workforce, effectively overturning protections established during the Biden administration.

The reclassification would give federal agencies the authority to dismiss employees without having to go through lengthy and complex procedures or appeals processes. The policy targets workers with roles that involve "policy-determining, policy-making, policy-advocating, or confidential duties."

Trump emphasized that the policy would ensure federal employees align with the administration's priorities. "If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job," Trump stated. "This is common sense, and will allow the federal government to finally be ‘run like a business.’"

While the policy will not take effect immediately, the administration indicated that it will require a follow-up executive order. The White House clarified that while employees would not need to personally support the president, they would be expected to "faithfully implement the law and the administration’s policies."

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