Former President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order reclassifying thousands of federal employees, a move that has sparked significant concern among government experts and political analysts. The order reinstates "Schedule F," a controversial classification that makes it easier to dismiss federal employees deemed politically unreliable. This decision comes as part of Trump's broader plan, dubbed Project 2025, orchestrated in collaboration with the Heritage Foundation, a hard-right think tank. The plan aims to streamline government by replacing civil servants with conservative appointees.
Trump's latest executive order is expected to have far-reaching implications for the federal workforce. Many experts predict that this move will negatively affect government operations, echoing conclusions from a study published in the journal Public Administration. The study highlighted that politicization within federal employment is linked to diminished performance outcomes, reduced public trust, and increased corruption. Under the new order, Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head the "department of government efficiency" or "Doge," which seeks to implement deep cuts to federal spending.
Russell Vought, Trump's nominee for leading the White House Office of Management and Budget, emerged as a key architect behind Project 2025. The project outlines a strategy for a potential second Trump administration, focusing on replacing current civil servants with individuals aligned with conservative values. The plan's critics argue it undermines the impartiality and professionalism integral to effective governance. An excerpt from the journal Public Administration notes:
"Impartiality and professionalism are consistently related to positive performance outcomes, higher public trust and confidence, and lower levels of corruption [whereas] politicization was negatively related to government performance, employee work attitudes … and impartial administration, and positively related to corruption."
Trump's executive order counters a previous action by the Biden administration, which had rescinded an earlier order similarly reclassifying federal employees. President Joe Biden characterized his administration's actions as:
"a step toward combatting corruption and partisan interference to ensure civil servants are able to focus on the most important task at hand: delivering for the American people."
The reintroduction of "Schedule F" has reignited debates over its constitutionality and potential impacts on the federal workforce's effectiveness. Donald Kettl, an expert on government reform, believes that Schedule F "is probably constitutional," though its implications remain contentious.
The Biden administration had initially countered Trump's previous executive order with rules aimed at preserving civil service protections. These protections shield many federal workers from political influence and ensure stability within government operations. However, Trump's new order challenges these protections once again, potentially leading to legal battles should unions and Democrats decide to contest it. Some experts suggest that if challenged in court, the new executive order may withstand scrutiny.