Protecting the Federal Workforce

Federal Workforce Economy & Labor Democracy & Governance

In simple terms

This executive order revokes Trump-era policies that weakened federal employee protections, including Schedule F (which would have made career civil servants easier to fire) and three 2018 executive orders restricting union activities. It also requires agencies to bargain over certain labor matters and directs OPM to recommend a $15/hour minimum wage for federal workers.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 7231

Record & deadlines

Jan 22, 2021Signed
Signed by the President
Jan 27, 2021FR published
Published in the Federal Register · 86 FR 7231
Federal Register PDF
Apr 22, 2021
OPM report recommending $15/hour minimum wage for federal employees
Apr 22, 2021
Agency heads must suspend/revise/rescind identified actions from review of EOs 13836-13839

Key directives

Revoke EO 13957 (Schedule F)
OPM immediately cease processing Schedule F petitions
Agency heads immediately suspend/revise/rescind actions related to EO 13957
Revoke EOs 13836, 13837, 13839 and 2019 memorandum
Disband Interagency Labor Relations Working Group
OPM withdraw materials from disbanded working group inconsistent with Section 1 policy
Agency heads review existing actions related to EOs 13836-13839
Agency heads suspend/revise/rescind identified actions as soon as practicable
Agency heads elect to negotiate over 5 U.S.C. 7106(b)(1) subjects
OPM provide report with recommendations for $15/hour federal minimum wage

Who is ordered

Prior policyRollback

revokeExecutive Order 13957 of October 21, 2020 (Creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service)
revokeExecutive Order 13836 of May 25, 2018 (Developing Efficient, Effective, and Cost-Reducing Approaches to Federal Sector Collective Bargaining)
revokeExecutive Order 13837 of May 25, 2018 (Ensuring Transparency, Accountability, and Efficiency in Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Use)
revokeExecutive Order 13839 of May 25, 2018 (Promoting Accountability and Streamlining Removal Procedures Consistent with Merit System Principles)
revokePresidential Memorandum of October 11, 2019 (Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839)
otherproposed actions, decisions, petitions, rules, regulations or other guidance pursuant to, or to effectuate, Executive Order 13957
otherpetitions that seek to convert positions to Schedule F or to create new positions in Schedule F
otherInteragency Labor Relations Working Group
otherall materials issued by Interagency Labor Relations Working Group that are inconsistent with section 1 policy
otheractions identified in review related to Executive Orders 13836, 13837, and 13839

Related orders

What to expect

Immediate

Revocation of Schedule F and three 2018 EOs takes effect
OPM must cease processing Schedule F petitions
Agency heads must suspend/revise/rescind actions related to revoked orders
Agency heads must elect to negotiate over 5 U.S.C. 7106(b)(1) subjects

Near term (90d)

Agency heads must complete review of existing actions related to EOs 13836-13839
OPM must provide report recommending $15/hour minimum wage for federal employees

Long term

Potential implementation of $15/hour federal minimum wage
Restoration of collective bargaining practices
Rebuilding of career civil service protections

Risks & tensions

EO 13837 subsection (e)(vi) is omitted from numbering sequence—unclear if intentional or typographical error
Some agencies may resist restoring prior collective bargaining terms
Congressional appropriations may constrain $15/hour wage implementation
Legal challenges possible from groups opposing expanded union bargaining
Schedule F revocation may face future administrative reversal