The Office of Personnel Management recently issued a memo to federal departments and agencies, following an executive order from President Donald Trump, requesting the identification of policy-oriented positions for potential reclassification. This move aims to shift certain roles to a new category with reduced job security.
According to the memo, agencies have a 90-day period to conduct a preliminary review of positions and submit petitions to OPM. Subsequently, they will have an additional 120 days to finalize the reclassification process, pending the issuance of a new executive order by the president.
The targeted positions include those involved in policy development, drafting regulations, supervising attorneys, and exercising substantial discretion in agency functions. Additionally, roles related to proposed regulations, guidance, collective bargaining negotiations, and program accountability may be affected.
It is important to note that Trump's executive order supersedes a 2024 Biden administration rule designed to enhance protections for civil service workers. This decision has raised concerns among federal employees, as those moved to the new 'Schedule Policy/Career' category would lose civil service safeguards, potentially making them more vulnerable to termination.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reshape the federal workforce. A similar directive in late 2020, which established a category known as Schedule F, was rescinded by former President Joe Biden. The current move underscores the administration's focus on altering job security provisions within the federal government.
