Partnership for Public Service statement on the new Schedule Policy/Career rule removing civil service protections for thousands

April 18, 2025

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier in response to the Trump administration’s announcement that OPM will move forward with a new rule, previously known as Schedule F, to remove civil service protections for tens of thousands career federal employees: 

“This rebranded Schedule F rule is both misguided and counterproductive and is another bad deal for the American people. 

“All civil servants swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution – not an individual president.  This rule will make tens of thousands of civil servants less accountable to that oath and instead make them even more susceptible to politicization. 

“The American people want and deserve a nonpartisan, expert civil service and this action is one of a series that is taking us in the exact wrong direction. The end result will be incompetence, corruption and   worse government.” 

Stier continued, “Our government needs serious improvements, but the way to do it is by making merit more important, not less. Instead of pursuing this misguided policy, the administration and Congress should undertake an evidence-based approach to performance management and modernize processes so they work better for leaders, managers and employees alike – while maintaining the merit system principles that are the foundation of our civil service.” 

In a 2024 national survey conducted for the Partnership, Americans said they want government to work better but overwhelmingly believe making it more political is not the way to do it. For example, 95% of U.S. adults said civil servants should be hired and promoted based on merit, not political belief; 90% said they should serve the public more than any individual president; and 86% said they should serve the Constitution more than any individual president. 

The Partnership’s Vision for a Better Government outlines a set of reforms that would help ensure the government is better equipped to meet the public’s needs.  

For more information about how current and former federal employees can navigate this time of uncertainty, visit the Partnership’s new FedSupport resource hub. 

During the past 24 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees.   

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.        

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