AFGE Challenges Legality of Trump Policy Politicizing Federal Workforce

The Trump administration’s Office of Personnel Management has finalized a rule creating “Schedule Policy/Career” — the latest iteration of what was formerly known as Schedule F. This rule allows agencies to reclassify career federal employees into a new schedule where they can be fired at will by political appointees, with essentially no procedural safeguards or appeal rights.

AFGE National President Everett Kelley called it “a direct assault on a professional, nonpartisan, merit-based civil service and the government services the American people rely on every day.”

The rule claims these positions remain “career” and filled on a nonpartisan basis. But let’s be clear about what it actually does: it strips the protections that keep federal workers from being punished for doing their jobs honestly instead of politically. OPM’s own language permits agencies to place employees into this new schedule where they serve at the pleasure of political overseers.

AFGE has announced an imminent court challenge to the final rule, brought alongside a coalition of unions and other plaintiffs including Democracy Forward.

Why It Matters for Local 2328

Hampton Roads VA employees — nurses, claims processors, mental health professionals, administrative staff — are exactly the kind of career civil servants this rule targets. If VA leadership decides your position is “policy-influencing,” you could be reclassified and lose your due process rights overnight. No appeal. No union grievance. Just a political appointee’s decision.

This is why your union fights. AFGE has already won multiple court battles against this administration’s attacks on the civil service. This will be the next one.

Stay informed. Stay union.

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