Key Facts

• The order changes the status of about 8,000 senior federal employees to "at-will," allowing quick dismissal without the usual appeals process.
• It revives parts of Schedule F, a classification from President Trump’s earlier term aimed at shifting policy-influencing roles to at-will employment.
• Affected positions include IT leaders like chief information officers, chief technology officers, and senior managers responsible for cybersecurity and AI.
• Most impacted employees are at the GS-15 level, a senior federal pay grade, with many earning close to $200,000 a year.
• The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, and Department of Health and Human Services have large numbers of employees affected, risking disruption in security, military, health, and technology work.
• White House officials say the change helps senior staff implement the administration’s goals without resistance.
• Critics warn it may politicize roles meant to be nonpartisan and cause rapid turnover and instability.
• The Office of Personnel Management supports the change, stating these roles should be filled by those who fully support the administration’s policies.