What Happened
On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce," effectively reinstating and amending the previous Schedule F policy. This order reclassified a significant number of federal employees in policy-related roles as "Schedule F," stripping them of traditional civil service protections and making them easier to dismiss. The directive mandated federal agencies to identify positions for reclassification, leading to widespread uncertainty and fear among civil servants.
Subsequently, agencies began notifying employees of their new status, with some departments taking a broad approach that encompassed numerous positions. This move was part of a broader strategy to reshape the federal workforce by increasing political influence over traditionally nonpartisan roles.
Why It Matters
The U.S. civil service is built around a core principle: nonpartisan public service. Federal workers are hired based on merit, not ideology, and are protected from political firings to ensure that the government serves the public — not a party or a president.
Schedule F upends this structure by removing civil service protections from tens of thousands of employees, opening the door for mass firings based on loyalty, political affiliation, or personal ideology. This not only undermines the neutrality of the federal government, but also creates a chilling effect on those who might resist unlawful or unethical directives.
In essence, Schedule F turns public service into a loyalty test, disincentivizing dissent, whistleblowing, or adherence to legal norms that might conflict with political interests. Moreover, this action could deter qualified individuals from pursuing or remaining in public service careers, fearing job insecurity tied to political shifts. The potential loss of institutional knowledge and continuity poses risks to the effective functioning of government programs and services.
How It Contributes to the Drift
Authoritarian regimes often seek to consolidate power by eroding the independence of civil institutions and placing loyalists in key positions. The reinstatement of Schedule F facilitates this by allowing the executive branch to exert greater control over the federal workforce, diminishing the checks and balances that a nonpartisan civil service provides. This move aligns with tactics observed in other contexts where the goal is to weaken institutional resistance and centralize authority.