A recent report has shed light on the apprehension felt by federal employees as President-elect Trump prepares to return to the White House for a second term. The prospect of mass firings under the reinstatement of Schedule F, an executive order from 2020, has left many employees feeling scared and anxious.
According to sources, concerns have been raised about the potential misuse of Schedule F to remove employees perceived as disloyal to the administration. Former Trump appointee Ronald Sanders highlighted the order's potential to replace career civil servants with loyalists, raising questions about the order's implications for the federal workforce.
Employees from various government agencies, including the Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, have expressed a sense of dread and are engaging in discussions about the challenges they may face in a second Trump administration.
The implementation of Schedule F could pave the way for mass firings based on perceived disloyalty, as Trump has previously expressed concerns about federal workers undermining his agenda.
In response to these concerns, President Biden's administration introduced new rules in April aimed at protecting federal workers from arbitrary dismissals. These rules aim to safeguard civil servants from political interference and ensure their focus remains on serving the American people.
The Office of Personnel Management has also introduced regulations to prevent career civil servants from being reclassified as political appointees or at-will workers, thereby providing additional job security for federal employees.
Despite attempts to reach out to the Trump transition team for comment, no response has been received at the time of reporting.
