Supporting Federal Employees Through Change Supporting Federal Employees Through Change As a federal employee, you play a critical role in delivering vital public services. You provide nonpartisan expertise to political leaders, maintain continuity across presidential administrations and uphold a constitutional oath to serve the public good. Right now, there are a lot of questions swirling about what it means to be a federal employee and the role of the career workforce. These issues can be challenging to navigate, especially during the start of a new administration. The Partnership for Public Service is here, as it has been for more than 20 years, to support you–the federal employee–so you can continue to serve the public and uphold your oath of office. This hub is a resource for you to answer the questions we are frequently asked about how various proposals may affect federal employees, to create a safe space for information sharing and community building, and most of all, to respond to what you need in this moment and in the months to come. About the Partnership for Public Service The Partnership for Public Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to building a better government and a stronger democracy. “I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” Oath of Office, 5 U.S. Code § 3331 Your Questions Answered Federal workers and agencies are in the news a lot lately. We’ve received many questions about various proposals and what they mean for the civil service. These FAQs below provide background and context, explain current laws, executive actions and proposals, and highlight additional resources. We will update this page regularly, so stay tuned for more information on topics such as workforce reductions and reorganizations, the rights and responsibilities of federal employment, congressional procedures and more. *Nothing in this section should be construed as providing legal guidance. It is for informational purposes only and individual situations may vary. Schedule Policy/Career (formerly Schedule F) What is Schedule Policy/Career (formerly Schedule F)? Schedule Policy/Career is a federal employment category, or “schedule,” established by the current Trump administration via executive order. The order permits agency leaders to reassign some federal positions from their current employment category into a new category. The executive order is broadly directed at career federal employees in policymaking roles. The order gives examples of job responsibilities for these types of roles as a guide for agency heads who are deciding whether to reclassify a position into the new Policy/Career schedule. However, the full scope of which positions might be affected is unclear, as the directive relies on agency heads to determine the specific roles that will fall under Schedule Policy/Career. See more under “How do I know if Schedule Policy/Career will apply to me?” below. Schedule Policy/Career employees will have fewer employment protections, making them easier to fire. Additional Schedule Policy/Career Questions How is Schedule Policy/Career different from Schedule F? The new executive order clarifies that Schedule Policy/Career is directed at career federal employees in competitive service positions. It includes some guidance for agency heads to use when determining which roles to place in Schedule Policy/Career, and it directs the Office of Personnel Management director to issue further guidance about additional categories of positions. Additionally, the new directive notes that Schedule Policy/Career employees, or applicants for these positions, are not required to personally or politically support President Trump or the policies of the current administration. The 2020 Schedule F executive order did not make this distinction. How do I know if Schedule Policy/Career will apply to me? It is unclear how the Schedule Policy/Career guidelines will be implemented because much of the reclassification actions are at the agency’s discretion. The executive order creating Schedule Policy/Career directs agency leaders to identify all employees in competitive service positions or in other schedules already excepted from the competitive service “of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.” The order allows agency heads to determine which employees fall into these definitions. The executive order lists certain job duties that agency heads should consider—for example, whether the position involves developing or drafting regulations or guidance. It also directs the Office of Personnel Management to issue guidance on additional categories of positions that agencies should consider for the Policy/Career schedule. It is up to the agency heads to decide how to apply these considerations. How many federal employees were placed in Schedule F during the first Trump administration? The Government Accountability Office found that no agency placed positions in Schedule F before the executive order was revoked in January 2021. However, according to GAO, some agencies had begun to consider doing so. For example, the Office of Personnel Management approved the Office of Management and Budget’s request to move 136 types of positions into Schedule F. This shift would have involved 415 employees—or 68% of OMB’s workforce. Are there any roadblocks to implementing the Schedule Policy/Career executive order? The Biden administration finalized a rule in April 2024 that established procedural requirements for moving positions from the competitive service to the excepted service, or from one excepted service to another. The rule mandated that the civil service protections employees accrue cannot be taken away if their position is involuntarily moved. It also gave civil servants who are involuntarily moved and stripped of those accrued protections the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board. The new Schedule Policy/Career regulation by the Trump administration must go through a rulemaking process to override the Biden administration’s rule. The rulemaking process generally takes months to complete. The Trump administration may attempt to fast-track Schedule Policy/Career and work around the Biden administration regulation by using an interim or direct final rule. An interim or direct rule would allow a new Schedule Policy/Career policy to go into effect immediately. However, this attempt would likely be challenged in court. The Trump executive order directs the Office of Personnel Management to rescind the regulation it issued under the Biden administration. What job protections would Schedule Policy/Career positions have? The executive order requires agencies to follow the principle of veterans’ preference as far as “administratively feasible,” which leaves its implementation unclear. Additionally, individuals in these positions would lose certain due process rights, such as notice of removal and the right to appeal if removed from a job. The order also requires agencies to establish rules around prohibited personnel practices. It is unclear what approaches agencies may take in implementing these rules. If I was hired into a competitive service position, could my role be retroactively moved to Schedule Policy/Career? Attempts to retroactively move employees into the excepted service are likely to be challenged in court. Federal employee unions, as well as other organizations, challenged the 2020 Schedule F executive order, and lawsuits have already been filed to challenge the new 2025 directive. What can Congress do? Congress could pass legislation that creates or prevents the creation of new federal employment categories or modifies federal employee protections. Additional Resources Other explainers, FAQs and resources on specific topics may interest federal employees. We are providing these materials for awareness only, not to endorse specific content or highlight a formal partnership with an author, agency or organization. Additional resources will be added in the coming weeks. Employee Rights and Responsibilities Your Rights as a Federal Employee as Enforced by OSC | Office of Special Counsel Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch | U.S. Office of Government Ethics EEOC Resources for Federal Employees and Job Applicants | U.S. Office of Government Ethics Guide to Understanding Your SF-50 | U.S. Office of Government Ethics Clarifying Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles Regarding the Senior Executive Service | Senior Executives Association Protections and Processes Protect Yourself Online – Shield From Doxing | Federal Protective Service How to File an Appeal | Merit Systems Protection Board Whistleblower Information | Government Accountability Project Whistleblower Resources | Project on Government Oversight General Information Dear Federal Workers: Don’t Quit | POLITICO Federal Telework By the Numbers | Partnership for Public Service Federal Employee Explainer Series The Partnership for Public Service is hosting a webinar series to answer your questions. Right now, there are a lot of questions swirling about what it means to be a federal employee and the role of the career workforce. These issues can be challenging to navigate, especially during the start of a new administration. The Partnership for Public Service is here, as it has been for more than 20 years, to support you–the federal employee–so you can continue to serve the public and uphold your oath of office. Register for our free webinars Past Webinars What do executive orders mean for me? What if my employment status changes? What are my rights as an employee? What are my whistleblower rights? Resources for Leading Through Change The resources below feature tips for career employees on leading through change and being resilient during times of transition and uncertainty. Don’t miss our three-part webinar series on navigating times of change and supporting your workforce during leadership transitions. Leadership Resources Thumbnail for Public Service Leadership Model®: Leading Change Public Service Leadership Model®: Leading Change The skills outlined in the Leading Change competency of our Public Service Leadership Model will guide leaders in managing change at the individual and organizational level. Thumbnail for Leading change in uncertain times Leading change in uncertain times Check out this blog post from the last presidential transition season that provides leaders with best practices for preparing their team for change. Thumbnail for Leading with trust Leading with trust Learn more about establishing a strong base of trust that will build resilience and help maintain accountability during ambiguous times. Thumbnail for Public Leaders’ Guide to Engaged Trust Public Leaders’ Guide to Engaged Trust This new resource for federal leaders provides a framework for federal leaders who seek to spread trust with their teams, agencies and the public. Thumbnail for How acting officials lead during presidential transitions How acting officials lead during presidential transitions This blog post details five crucial functions that career civil servants perform when serving in acting roles. Thumbnail for 3 principles for agencies to manage risk when changing leadership during a presidential transition 3 principles for agencies to manage risk when changing leadership during a presidential transition This blog post highlights best practices for agencies to mitigate the risks that come with a change in presidential administration. Webinars and Events Sign up for email updates and check back frequently for upcoming events and webinars. Supporting Civil Servants Through Times of Change The public benefits from a career civil service that knows how to navigate presidential transitions. But how can public servants take care of themselves and one another during times of change? Former career executives offer tips for self-care and best practices for supporting their teams in the days, weeks and months ahead. Navigating Times of Change and Transition How can career civil servants navigate a change in administration? Hint: Leadership matters. Listen to former career executives share their experiences leading through change. Leading Through Complex Situations and Building Trust Career civil servants help ensure smooth presidential transitions. But change can bring uncertainty and instability to the government. Thankfully, former civil servants have a playbook to offer, including how to establish trust with an incoming administration. All About the Federal Workforce There are many myths and misconceptions about the federal workforce. The Partnership is committed to sharing data and stories about the important work that federal employees do on behalf of the country. Below are data, resources and additional information that may be useful to share with others. 80% of federal employees work outside the Washington, D.C. area. 30% of federal employees are veterans. 70% of federal employees work in defenseand national security-related agencies. 14% of federal employees work in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) occupations. The following resources provide data and information about federal employees, agencies and the government’s work. Data and Analysis Thumbnail for A Profile of the 2023 Federal Workforce A Profile of the 2023 Federal Workforce Our analysis of government data highlights various aspects of the federal workforce, including employee demographics, hiring trends and more. Thumbnail for Beyond the Capital: The Federal Workforce Outside the Washington, D.C., Area Beyond the Capital: The Federal Workforce Outside the Washington, D.C., Area More than 80% of federal employees work outside the D.C. area. Read this analysis to learn more about the composition of our government’s geographically dispersed workforce. Thumbnail for Agency Performance Dashboards Agency Performance Dashboards These dashboards provide an overview of the workforce, employee experience, budgetary resources and information-technology maturity of 33 major federal agencies. Thumbnail for Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings The annual rankings measure employee engagement and satisfaction across government as well as in individual departments, agencies and subcomponents. Videos Public Service 101: Five Things You Should Know About Civil Servants People often equate the federal government with Congress and elected leaders, but our government encompasses so much more than that. Watch our video to learn more about the federal civil service and the hard work civil servants do every day. Watch more videos Our Government Explained (in 3 Minutes or Less): Video Series Understanding how our federal government works can be challenging, and many people are unaware of what it does to affect their daily lives. Fortunately, our video series helps people better understand our largest democratic institution and the more than 2 million full-time civilian employees who work there. Watch the series Government Success Database This database highlights hundreds of career civil servants who have made significant contributions to our country. From protecting public health and defending our national security to addressing climate change and supporting our economic well-being, their achievements showcase the vital importance of our government and the nonpartisan civil service to the public good. Read the stories Photo Credits National Institutes of Health | Department of Veterans Affairs / U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service