President Donald Trump reclassified about 8,000 federal positions on Jan. 3, moving them into a new employment category with fewer civil service protections.
By signing the executive order “Implementing Schedule Policy/Career in the Excepted Service,” Trump made it easier for employees in certain senior policy-making roles to be removed for poor performance.
The move is aimed at making federal leaders who influence policy decisions “more accountable to the American people,” the White House stated in a fact sheet about the order.
The roles will remain “career” positions, and the non-partisan hiring processes, competitive status, and other aspects of the jobs will not change, according to the White House….