The Trump administration has officially completed the revamp of the U.S. government’s civil service system, granting the president authority over the hiring and firing of approximately 50,000 career federal employees, as per an official government announcement. The overhaul, unveiled by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), fulfills a campaign pledge by Trump to remove job protections for federal workers deemed to have undue influence on government policies. This marks the most substantial alteration to civil service regulations in over a century. Originally named the “Schedule F” overhaul, the initiative was delayed due to Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.
Under the new policy, Trump will have the discretion to designate which government positions will lose their job protections, according to the OPM statement. A federal judge will review the policy, as federal worker unions and their supporters filed a lawsuit in January to halt the rule’s implementation, leading to a temporary pause in the legal proceedings.
Skye Perryman from Democracy Forward, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit, stated that they will continue to challenge the rule in court to prevent what they view as an unlawful action by the administration. OPM Director Scott Kupor emphasized that the change aims to ensure taxpayer funds support an efficient and high-quality workforce, despite minimal evidence of cost savings based on recent budget data.
While the final rule explicitly prohibits political favoritism and loyalty tests, critics, including departing employees and congressional Democrats, dispute these claims. The Justice Department’s dismissal of career lawyers and FBI agents who had worked on Trump-related investigations has led to operational delays and staffing shortages, as reported by The Associated Press.
The OPM estimated a loss of 317,000 federal jobs by fiscal 2025, resulting in the federal workforce shrinking to its lowest level in at least a decade. This downsizing aligns with Trump’s efforts to reduce government size and promote efficiency. Contrary to claims of government bloat, data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicates a lower share of public sector employment in the U.S. compared to the OECD average.
Furthermore, the administration’s downsizing efforts, spearheaded by individuals like Elon Musk, have faced scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest and allegations of mishandling private data. Various federal agencies experienced significant staff reductions, with exceptions like the Department of Homeland Security, which maintained a relatively stable headcount throughout Trump’s tenure.
Legal challenges persist over the terminations resulting from the downsizing, with pending lawsuits seeking redress. Musk acknowledged some success in the downsizing initiative before its dissolution, emphasizing changes to whistleblower protections and enforcement within federal agencies as part of the administration’s broader restructuring efforts.