Trump Administration Changes to the Civil Service

Brief # 181 Elections & Politics | By Inijah Quadri | March 29, 2025

Summary

The United States federal civil service stands as the backbone of our nation’s governance, ensuring the implementation of public policies and the delivery of essential services. In recent years, however, this institution has faced unprecedented challenges, with political maneuvers threatening its foundational principles. Understanding the intricacies of civil service employment—including hiring and firing procedures, reporting hierarchies, rights, responsibilities, benefits, and the distinction between civil servants and political appointees—is crucial, especially as these issues have come to the forefront in today’s political climate.

Analysis

Hiring Process

Federal civil service positions are traditionally filled through a competitive process designed to uphold merit-based principles, a cornerstone of democratic governance. Vacancies are announced on USAJOBS.gov, the official federal employment portal, where applicants must meet specific qualification standards and often undergo rigorous examinations or assessments. This process is governed by Title 5 of the United States Code, which outlines the rules and regulations for federal employment. However, recent political interventions have sought to undermine this system. The Trump administration’s (during his first term) introduction of “Schedule F,” a classification that would strip certain federal positions of civil service protections, exemplifies such attempts to erode the merit-based hiring process.

Schedule F is a job classification within the excepted service designated for positions of a “confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character.” Established by Executive Order 13957 in October 2020, Schedule F removed civil service protections from selected positions, allowing political appointees greater authority over hiring and firing. Although initially revoked by President Biden in January 2021, President Trump reinstated Schedule F upon returning to office in January 2025. Critics warn this threatens to further politicize the federal workforce by reducing impartiality and increasing vulnerability to politically motivated dismissals.

Termination Procedures

Terminating a federal employee has historically involved adherence to due process, ensuring protection against arbitrary dismissal. Supervisors are required to provide written notice detailing the reasons for termination, allow the employee to respond, and, in many cases, offer an opportunity for appeal. These procedures are rooted in reforms designed to prevent the patronage systems of the past. Disturbingly, the current administration has launched an aggressive campaign targeting probationary federal employees, those with less than two years of service who typically have fewer protections. While many of them have since been rehired, reports indicate that approximately 25,000 such employees were terminated within the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term, under the guise of reducing government size.

Major agencies affected include the Departments of Treasury, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Veterans Affairs. These dismissals were primarily carried out under directives from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), led by Acting Director Charles Ezell, instructing agencies to terminate probationary employees without extensive performance justification. Following legal challenges, federal courts ruled many of these firings unlawful due to insufficient notice and lack of proper authority, resulting in the ordered reinstatement of over 20,000 federal workers, who are currently on paid leave pending final appeals. These actions have led to significant disruptions in public services and have raised serious legal and ethical concerns about the administration’s commitment to fair labor practices.

Reporting Structure

Federal agencies operate under hierarchical structures where civil servants report to supervisors, who in turn report to higher-level officials. This chain of command ensures accountability and efficient decision-making within the agency. However, the recent politicization of the civil service threatens this structure. The administration’s push to convert career positions into political appointments undermines the stability and impartiality of reporting lines, leading to a workforce more susceptible to political pressures rather than dedicated to public service.

Determining Civil Service Staffing Levels

The allocation of civil servant positions within each federal agency is primarily influenced by Congress through the federal budget and appropriations process. While Congress does not typically dictate exact staffing levels, the funding provided in annual appropriations bills sets the financial parameters within which agencies operate. Agency leaders use this funding to determine staffing levels based on operational needs. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) oversees federal hiring practices, ensuring adherence to merit system principles and uniform staffing policies across agencies.

Rights and Responsibilities

Federal employees are entitled to various rights, including protection against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information, as enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). They also have the right to due process in disciplinary actions and the freedom to join or not join unions. Responsibilities include adhering to ethical standards, performing duties efficiently, and upholding the public trust. Alarmingly, these rights are under siege. The administration’s attempts to bypass due process and target employees based on perceived political affiliations threaten the very fabric of our merit-based system, paving the way for a return to discriminatory practices and a culture of fear among public servants.

Benefits

Civil servants traditionally receive a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid leave, and life insurance. These benefits are designed to attract and retain a competent workforce dedicated to public service. However, the current climate of uncertainty, marked by arbitrary terminations and attacks on job security, jeopardizes these benefits. The erosion of protections not only demoralizes the existing workforce but also deters potential talent from considering public service careers, thereby weakening the government’s ability to serve its citizens effectively.

Distinction Between Civil Service Employees and Political Appointees

Civil service employees are career officials selected through a merit-based system, ensuring continuity and impartiality in government operations. They retain their positions across different administrations, providing stability and institutional memory. In contrast, political appointees are selected by the president or agency heads to implement the current administration’s agenda, with their tenure typically ending with the appointing authority’s term. This system is designed to balance the need for both stable governance and the implementation of elected officials’ policies. However, the current administration’s blatant disregard for this balance, through efforts to blur the lines between career civil servants and political appointees, threatens to politicize the bureaucracy and erode public trust in government institutions.

Policy Suggestion

In light of these troubling developments, it is imperative to enact robust legislative measures that fortify the merit-based principles of our civil service. Congress must pass laws that unequivocally protect federal employees from politically motivated dismissals and ensure that any attempts to reclassify positions, such as “Schedule F,” are subject to stringent oversight and approval processes. Additionally, strengthening the independence and authority of oversight bodies like the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is crucial to safeguard the rights of civil servants and maintain the integrity of public administration. Only through such decisive actions can we preserve a nonpartisan, effective, and just civil service that truly serves the interests of all citizens.

Engagement Resources

• USAJOBS (https://www.usajobs.gov/): The federal government’s official employment site.
• Office of Personnel Management (OPM) (https://www.opm.gov/) : Oversees federal human resources and provides policy guidance.
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (https://www.eeoc.gov/): Enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination.
• Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) (https://feea.org/): Provides scholarships and emergency assistance to federal employees.
• National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) (https://www.narfe.org/): Advocates for federal employee benefits and provides resources.