Trump Creates Schedule Policy/Career Category in Excepted Service
President Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to establish a new Schedule Policy/Career classification within the excepted service. The change expands presidential authority over certain policy-influencing positions that were previously subject to standard civil-service protections.
themandarin.com.auWASHINGTON, June 3, 2026 — President Trump issued an executive order Tuesday that directs federal agencies to implement a new “Schedule Policy/Career” category inside the excepted service.
The order, issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. §§ 3301, 3302, 5595 and 7511, applies to career employees in policy-making, supervisory or confidential roles whose positions are not covered by competitive-service hiring rules. It covers an estimated several thousand positions government-wide that help execute the laws but exercise significant discretion on regulatory, budgetary or enforcement matters.
The order changes the prior state in which such employees held standard excepted-service status with full adverse-action and appeal rights under Title 5. The new Schedule Policy/Career designation will permit faster removal or reassignment for policy reasons while preserving veterans’ preference and certain procedural safeguards.
Agencies must begin classifying qualifying positions within 120 days; the redesignation takes effect upon approval by the Office of Personnel Management.
Downstream, agencies will be required to review and reclassify eligible employees by early October 2026. The change triggers new internal procedures for performance reviews, disciplinary actions and separation pay calculations under the cited statutes.
Congress retains oversight authority through appropriations and potential legislation amending Title 5, while courts may see challenges testing the boundaries of the new category’s due-process limits. OPM must issue implementing guidance that other agencies will then incorporate into their human-resources systems.
This is the latest step in a series of executive-branch reorganizations that began with Schedule F in 2020. The original Schedule F was revoked in 2021; the current order revives and narrows the concept by creating a distinct “Policy/Career” track rather than a broad at-will conversion.
Primary sources: White House · 5 U.S.C. §§ 3301, 3302, 5595, 7511
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