Each of us relies on the work of federal employees, and when corrupt politics drive decisions, we all suffer.
Since last January, federal employees and the American public collectively endured the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, witnessed the separation of 317,000 federal employees, and faced the destruction of entire agencies that played a critical role in keeping our country running safely.
The current administration’s continued efforts to politicize our federal workforce don’t stop there. On Feb. 6, the Office of Personnel Management issued its final rule creating Schedule Policy/Career to re-classify an estimated 50,000 federal employees into at-will employees. Formerly referred to as Schedule F, Schedule Policy/Career claims to “strengthen accountability, improve performance, and reinforce a merit-based federal workforce.” But, the substance of this policy is far from what it suggests.
Contrary to its claims, Schedule Policy/Career will do profound harm to the federal workforce and its ability to carry out government operations. As president of the largest organization representing active and retired federal employees, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), we see right through any attempt to describe this as a minor policy change – in fact, only 5% of NARFE members see this having a minor impact to the way our government functions.
What’s at stake
We know it will make federal employees easier to terminate due to the reclassification. We also know it will remove due process protections, eliminating the right to appeal any disciplinary action or termination in front of an independent tribunal. Impartial review is meant to be a safeguard to ensure merit-based decisions — an integral part of the process now to be handed over to political loyalists.
But what’s even more costly is its ripple effect that will trickle down to the American people. Schedule Policy/Career will impact decisions on who receives funding and who does not, which public services are prioritized, and which critical initiatives — from veterans’ care to public health programs — may be delayed or disrupted. Its repercussions will touch every single American: from delivery of services, oversight of taxpayer dollars, and access to the programs they depend on. The costs are severe.
Further, the reclassification and removal of 50,000 experienced federal employees will significantly degrade the government’s institutional memory, high-level of expertise and capacity. These targeted “policy-influencing” roles require deep expertise — regulatory analysts, public health professionals, foreign affairs officers, environmental scientists, financial examiners — and are not easily replaced. In essence, Schedule Policy/Career will replace our current civil servant experts with incompetent actors.
The protection of merit-based civil service benefits every American
This ruling is not only a blow to our federal workforce and dedicated civil servants; it is an attack on how Americans receive stable, non-partisan civil services that impact their livelihood. That’s why NARFE filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of D.C. to block the implementation of the Trump administration’s Executive Order 14171 creating Schedule Policy/Career. We all must continue the fight in advocating for the rights of federal employees through lobbying efforts, engaging with Congress, educating the public, and ensuring that all audiences across the board understand the dangers of politicizing the federal workforce.
This past month, a NARFE survey directly gauged federal employees’ opinions on the ruling and where they believe it will be most impactful – or not. Nearly half (46%) of respondents noted they believe that the implementation of Schedule Policy/Career will make it easier for politics or corruption to influence government decisions. Our current federal workforce is more concerned about what Schedule Policy/Career means for us all — not just for themselves or a political party. And they are sounding the alarm.
I urge Congress to take immediate action to preserve merit-based protections and stop the politicization of our federal workforce. Schedule Policy/Career may be sold as government efficiency and reforming bureaucracy, but it is far from it. We must exercise more oversight to ensure that federal employee protections remain intact, and our impartial, professional civil servants are not shut out. I urge lawmakers to cosponsor the Saving the Civil Service Act, H.R. 492/S.134, to remove any doubts regarding the legality of Schedule Policy/Career.
I also ask the American public to not write off Schedule Policy/Career as a federal employee issue. This ruling affects every American citizen, as we are owed a fair and impartial government system that is truly efficient — without simply claiming to be. Each of us relies on the work of federal employees, and when corrupt politics drive decisions, we all suffer. We must stand up to protect our federal workforce that serves the American public, not political interests.
William Shackelford is the national president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), the largest federal employee and retiree organization dedicated to protecting the earned rights and benefits of all of America’s active and retired federal workers since its founding in 1921.
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