Creating Schedule G in the Excepted Service

This executive order creates a new Schedule G in the federal excepted service for noncareer policy-making or policy-advocating positions that normally change with presidential transitions. It amends Civil Service Rule VI to add Schedule G alongside existing schedules (A, B, C, D, E, and Policy/Career), and specifically directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to consider whether appointees would be suitable exponents of the President's policies while prohibiting consideration of political affiliation.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 34753

Impact dates

Date TBD
OPM Director to adopt implementing regulations

Key directives

OPM Director shall adopt regulations to implement Schedule G, with attention to 5 CFR part 213 amendments
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consider whether prospective Schedule G appointees would be suitable exponents of the President's policies
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall not take into account prospective appointees' political affiliation or political activity

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Schedule G established in Civil Service Rule VI
OPM directed to adopt implementing regulations

Near term (90d)

OPM regulatory amendments to 5 CFR part 213 expected

Long term

Structural change to federal personnel system for policy positions
Applies across future presidential transitions

Risks & tensions

Potential tension between 'suitable exponents of President's policies' and prohibition on political affiliation consideration—text does not resolve how these criteria interact
Expands excepted service category for policy positions, potentially reducing civil service protections for a broader class of roles
VA-specific application in Section 5(b) may create precedent for other agencies
Vague 'normally subject to change' standard in Section 2 leaves room for interpretation