The Donald Trump administration on Thursday (Feb 5) unveiled sweeping changes to federal workforce rules that would make it easier to fire tens of thousands of government employees. At the centre of the shift is a new classification for federal workers that could affect roughly 50,000 senior career employees across agencies, nearly two per cent of the federal workforce.<h2>A new category of federal workers</h2>The changes were announced by the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the federal workforce. Under the new regulations, agencies can move employees in policy-influencing roles into a category called “Schedule Policy/Career.”Unlike traditional civil service positions, these jobs will effectively become at-will roles, meaning workers can be dismissed more easily and with fewer protections than career employees have historically enjoyed.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-files-debacle-doj-exposes-nude-victims-in-catastrophic-file-dump-but-remembers-to-redact-trump-s-face-1770021222053">Shocking Epstein Files debacle: DOJ exposes nude victims in catastrophic file dump, but remembers to redact Trump's face</a>In a 255-page rule explaining the change, the agency argued that supervisors have long struggled to discipline or remove workers accused of misconduct or poor performance. "Agency supervisors report great difficulty removing employees for poor performance or misconduct."The new classification, it argues, "will allow agencies to quickly remove employees from critical positions who engage in misconduct, perform poorly, or obstruct the democratic process by intentionally subverting presidential directives." The regulation is expected to be formally published in the Federal Register this week.<h2>Trump's campaign promise taking shape?</h2>The policy, as per reports, can be traced back to an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January 2025 targeting "policy-influencing positions" across government agencies. Trump had attempted a similar overhaul at the end of his first term, but the order was reversed by the Biden administration.Since returning to the office, Trump has pushed aggressively to shrink the federal bureaucracy. The White House says the changes are meant to improve accountability and ensure government agencies respond to elected leadership.Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, telling reporters that employees who fail to perform their duties or carry out administration policies should not remain in government roles. "I think if people aren't doing their jobs, if they aren't showing up for work, if they're not working hard on behalf of this president, they're not welcome to work for him at all," she said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/disturbing-epstein-videos-go-viral-show-him-chasing-and-dancing-with-young-girls-watch-1770023075647">Disturbing Epstein videos go viral, show him chasing and dancing with young girls | Watch</a><h2>Fierce pushback from unions</h2>Federal employee groups and labour unions reacted quickly and sharply. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, called the new rule "a direct assault on a professional, nonpartisan, merit-based civil service." &nbsp;AFGE president Everett Kelley, in a statement, warned that the changes could replace experienced public servants with "political flunkies", undermining the independence of the federal workforce. "When people see turmoil and controversy in Washington, they don't ask for more politics in government; they ask for competence and professionalism. OPM is doing the opposite," he noted.Legal challenges are already being prepared. A coalition of advocacy groups represented by Democracy Forward said it plans to challenge the regulation in court, arguing it strips civil servants of longstanding protections."This is a deliberate attempt to do through regulation what the law does not allow—strip public servants of their rights and make it easier to fire them for political reasons and harm the American people through doing so," Democracy Forward chief Skye Perryman said in a statement.

The Trump administration has introduced new federal workforce rules allowing agencies to reclassify around 50,000 policy-influencing civil servants into an at-will category called “Schedule Policy/Career,” making them easier to fire. 

The Donald Trump administration on Thursday (Feb 5) unveiled sweeping changes to federal workforce rules that would make it easier to fire tens of thousands of government employees. At the centre of the shift is a new classification for federal workers that could affect roughly 50,000 senior career employees across agencies, nearly two per cent of the federal workforce. A new category of federal workers The changes were announced by the Office of Personnel Management, which oversees the federal workforce. Under the new regulations, agencies can move employees in policy-influencing roles into a category called “Schedule Policy/Career.” Unlike traditional civil service positions, these jobs will effectively become at-will roles, meaning workers can be dismissed more easily and with fewer protections than career employees have historically enjoyed. Also read | Shocking Epstein Files debacle: DOJ exposes nude victims in catastrophic file dump, but remembers to redact Trump's face In a 255-page rule explaining the change, the agency argued that supervisors have long struggled to discipline or remove workers accused of misconduct or poor performance. "Agency supervisors report great difficulty removing employees for poor performance or misconduct." The new classification, it argues, "will allow agencies to quickly remove employees from critical positions who engage in misconduct, perform poorly, or obstruct the democratic process by intentionally subverting presidential directives." The regulation is expected to be formally published in the Federal Register this week. Trump's campaign promise taking shape? The policy, as per reports, can be traced back to an executive order signed by Donald Trump in January 2025 targeting "policy-influencing positions" across government agencies. Trump had attempted a similar overhaul at the end of his first term, but the order was reversed by the Biden administration. Since returning to the office, Trump has pushed aggressively to shrink the federal bureaucracy. The White House says the changes are meant to improve accountability and ensure government agencies respond to elected leadership. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, telling reporters that employees who fail to perform their duties or carry out administration policies should not remain in government roles. "I think if people aren't doing their jobs, if they aren't showing up for work, if they're not working hard on behalf of this president, they're not welcome to work for him at all," she said. Also read | Disturbing Epstein videos go viral, show him chasing and dancing with young girls | Watch Fierce pushback from unions Federal employee groups and labour unions reacted quickly and sharply. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, called the new rule "a direct assault on a professional, nonpartisan, merit-based civil service." AFGE president Everett Kelley, in a statement, warned that the changes could replace experienced public servants with "political flunkies", undermining the independence of the federal workforce. "When people see turmoil and controversy in Washington, they don't ask for more politics in government; they ask for competence and professionalism. OPM is doing the opposite," he noted. Legal challenges are already being prepared. A coalition of advocacy groups represented by Democracy Forward said it plans to challenge the regulation in court, arguing it strips civil servants of longstanding protections. "This is a deliberate attempt to do through regulation what the law does not allow—strip public servants of their rights and make it easier to fire them for political reasons and harm the American people through doing so," Democracy Forward chief Skye Perryman said in a statement.

The Trump administration has introduced new federal workforce rules allowing agencies to reclassify around 50,000 policy-influencing civil servants into an at-will category called “Schedule Policy/Career,” making them easier to fire.&nbsp;

Trump administration creates loophole to fire federal workers who refuse to be POTUS’ ‘political flunkies’

The Trump administration is instructing federal agencies to prepare for large-scale layoffs in the event of a government shutd own, according to a memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The directive, which was obtained by CNN, tells agencies to identify programs that would face funding lapses if Congress fails to approve a budget by September 30 and are not legally required to continue. These programs should be prioritised for cuts, potentially leading to permanent job losses in areas that do not align with the President's agenda.&nbsp;Despite the administration's tough stance, the OMB remains hopeful that Congress will avoid a shutdown and prevent the need for such drastic measures. However, the memo underscores a more aggressive approach than in previous shut downs, particularly under President Trump, as the administration remains in a standoff with Democrats over key funding issues.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-displays-presidential-walk-of-fame-but-joe-biden-gets-autopen-portrait-1758743015579">White House displays 'Presidential Walk of Fame' — But Joe Biden gets autopen portrait</a>&nbsp;Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the memo, calling it a "political intimidation tactic" that serves to scare federal workers. He argued that Trump's focus on firing government employees is less about governance and more about instilling fear. Schumer also pointed out that similar attempts at firings had been reversed in the past.The looming threat of mass layoffs only escalates the ongoing budget conflict between the White House and congressional Democrats. While Democrats have called for an extension of enhanced federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage, Republicans have refused to make any concessions, leaving the fate of government funding hanging in the balance.&nbsp;This latest memo follows a broader push by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. Earlier in the year, the President signed an executive order urging agencies to develop plans for significant workforce reductions. Some agencies have already made cuts, while others have been forced to reverse them after legal challenges. While the memo highlights potential staffing reductions, key services such as social security, law enforcement, and air traffic control are expected to continue operating during a shutdown. However, many federal employees would be furloughed without pay, creating widespread disruption.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-praises-trump-s-strongest-message-on-russia-warns-iran-president-over-nuclear-sanctions-1758735322038">Macron praises Trump’s 'strongest message' on Russia, warns Iran president over nuclear sanctions</a>&nbsp;The OMB memo also stands out for its lack of transparency—agency shut down plans have not been publicly posted, despite the funding deadline approaching rapidly. The White House has indicated that unless Democrats meet their demands, it will push forward with plans to maintain funding for "core Trump Administration priorities" and prepare for job cuts in other areas.&nbsp;Critics, particularly on the left, view this as an attempt to use the shutdown as leverage to reshape the federal workforce and impose partisan policy objectives. Bobby Kogan, a former OMB official, criticised the strategy as "self-harming," arguing that it would unnecessarily drain the government of expertise and talent. He also labeled the approach as coercive, pressuring Democrats to concede by threatening to harm the country.

What happens to federal workers if the government shuts down? White House plans a strategy

The Trump administration is instructing federal agencies to prepare for large-scale layoffs in the event of a government shutd own, according to a memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The directive, which was obtained by CNN, tells agencies to identify programs that would face funding lapses if Congress fails to approve a budget by September 30 and are not legally required to continue. These programs should be prioritised for cuts, potentially leading to permanent job losses in areas that do not align with the President's agenda. Despite the administration's tough stance, the OMB remains hopeful that Congress will avoid a shutdown and prevent the need for such drastic measures. However, the memo underscores a more aggressive approach than in previous shut downs, particularly under President Trump, as the administration remains in a standoff with Democrats over key funding issues. Also Read: White House displays 'Presidential Walk of Fame' — But Joe Biden gets autopen portrait Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the memo, calling it a "political intimidation tactic" that serves to scare federal workers. He argued that Trump's focus on firing government employees is less about governance and more about instilling fear. Schumer also pointed out that similar attempts at firings had been reversed in the past. The looming threat of mass layoffs only escalates the ongoing budget conflict between the White House and congressional Democrats. While Democrats have called for an extension of enhanced federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage, Republicans have refused to make any concessions, leaving the fate of government funding hanging in the balance. This latest memo follows a broader push by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. Earlier in the year, the President signed an executive order urging agencies to develop plans for significant workforce reductions. Some agencies have already made cuts, while others have been forced to reverse them after legal challenges. While the memo highlights potential staffing reductions, key services such as social security, law enforcement, and air traffic control are expected to continue operating during a shutdown. However, many federal employees would be furloughed without pay, creating widespread disruption. Also Read: Macron praises Trump’s 'strongest message' on Russia, warns Iran president over nuclear sanctions The OMB memo also stands out for its lack of transparency—agency shut down plans have not been publicly posted, despite the funding deadline approaching rapidly. The White House has indicated that unless Democrats meet their demands, it will push forward with plans to maintain funding for "core Trump Administration priorities" and prepare for job cuts in other areas. Critics, particularly on the left, view this as an attempt to use the shutdown as leverage to reshape the federal workforce and impose partisan policy objectives. Bobby Kogan, a former OMB official, criticised the strategy as "self-harming," arguing that it would unnecessarily drain the government of expertise and talent. He also labeled the approach as coercive, pressuring Democrats to concede by threatening to harm the country.

The Trump administration is preparing federal agencies for mass layoffs if a government shutdown happens, targeting non-essential programs in a funding dispute with Democrats

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Trump administration creates loophole to fire federal workers who refuse to be POTUS’ ‘political flunkies’

What happens to federal workers if govt shuts down? White House plans a strategy