in effect
This is a Presidential Executive Order (EO 14171, signed January 20, 2025). It changes how certain federal civil-service employees—those in jobs that shape or carry out policy—are classified and how easily they can be removed. It does this by reinstating an earlier order from 2020 (EO 13957, “Schedule F”), with edits, and revoking a 2021 order that had cancelled it.
It brings back the 2020 “Schedule F” system but renames that job category “Schedule Policy/Career.” Employees moved into this category lose certain civil-service job protections, including the standard adverse-action and appeal procedures that normally make removal for misconduct or poor performance harder. The order states that these employees do not have to personally or politically support the President, but must faithfully carry out the administration’s policies or face dismissal. It directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to rewrite civil-service regulations to undo a April 9, 2024 rule (89 Fed. Reg. 24982) that conflicts with it, and—until that rewrite is done—declares specific existing regulations (5 CFR part 302 subpart F; 5 CFR 210.102(b)(3) and (b)(4)) inoperative. Within 30 days, OPM must issue guidance on additional categories of jobs agencies should consider moving into the new schedule.
Career federal employees in “confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating” positions are directly affected, as their reclassification can remove job protections and make them easier to dismiss. Federal agencies and their leadership must review and identify positions to recommend, and OPM must amend regulations and issue guidance. The order explicitly creates no legal rights enforceable in court and applies only within the executive branch.