Executive Order Reclassifies About 8,000 Federal Policy Positions

An executive order signed Wednesday reclassifies about 8,000 senior federal positions into a category called Schedule Policy/Career. The order covers employees who develop, direct, or advocate administration policies. The White House said the measure is meant to increase accountability for officials who influence government policy.

Officials stated that existing personnel rules often make it difficult to discipline or remove employees in senior policymaking roles.

Background on the Change The new category revives an earlier workforce reform effort. Officials said the order is designed to make the federal workforce more accountable and improve agency performance. Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor told reporters that the administration needs employees willing to carry out its policy priorities.

Kupor said workers could hold any political views, but those views should not interfere with carrying out lawful orders and policy directives. The order affects a smaller number of positions than earlier estimates, which had suggested as many as 50,000 federal employees could eventually fall under similar reforms.