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EO 14171Executive OrderTrump 47 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 14171

Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce

This executive order reinstates and renames the controversial "Schedule F" excepted-service classification created by the Trump administration in 2020 (now called "Schedule Policy/Career"), revokes Biden-era workforce protections from EO 14003, and directs the OPM Director to rescind a 2024 civil-service protection rule. It makes policy-influencing federal employees easier to remove by exempting them from standard competitive-service adverse-action procedures, while stating they need not personally support the President but must faithfully implement administration policies.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8625

Impact dates

  1. OPM Director issues guidance on additional position categories for Schedule Policy/Career

  2. Agency heads complete review and suspend/revise/rescind EO 14003 sec. 3(e)(v) and 3(f) actions

Key directives

  • Reinstate EO 13957 immediately with January 20, 2025 as effective date
  • Rename Schedule F to Schedule Policy/Career throughout
  • Amend EO 13957 sections 1, 4(a)(i), 4(b)(i), 5, and 6 as specified
  • Rescind April 9, 2024 'Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles' final rule
  • Hold 5 CFR part 302 subpart F and 5 CFR 210.102(b)(3)-(4) inoperative until rescissions complete
  • Issue guidance on additional position categories within 30 days
  • Revoke EO 14003 and cease enforcement of all related rules/regulations/guidance
  • Agency heads review and suspend/revise/rescind EO 14003 section 3(e)(v) and 3(f) actions ASAP

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO 13957 reinstated with full force (treated as dated January 20, 2025)
  • EO 14003 revoked; its rules/regulations/guidance no longer enforced
  • 5 CFR provisions held inoperative until rescissions completed

Near term (90d)

  • OPM Director must issue guidance on additional position categories (within 30 days)
  • OPM Director must promptly amend Civil Service Regulations to rescind April 9, 2024 rule changes
  • Agency heads must review and suspend/revise/rescind actions under EO 14003 sec. 3(e)(v) and 3(f)

Long term

  • Potential large-scale reclassification of career civil service positions to Schedule Policy/Career
  • Shift in federal employment norms toward at-will status for policy roles
  • Possible litigation over rescission of 2024 civil-service protections and reinstated schedule authority

Risks & tensions

  • Likely immediate litigation challenging reinstatement of Schedule F/Policy-Career authority
  • Conflict with merit-system principles and potential APA challenges to 5 CFR inoperative provision
  • Vague 'faithfully implement' standard creates uncertainty for employee speech and dissent protections
  • Mass reclassification could politicize traditionally neutral career roles
  • Democratic legitimacy tension: order cites presidential electoral accountability to justify weakening career civil-service protections
Executive Order 14171: Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce · Executive Orders