Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The President has issued an executive order establishing Schedule Policy/Career within the excepted service for career federal employees in policy-influencing roles. These positions will be filled based on merit, regardless of political affiliation, and will be held to higher accountability standards.
The order notes that current adverse action procedures make it difficult to remove federal employees for misconduct or poor performance. With only about 40% of supervisors believing they can remove staff for serious misconduct, and just 25% for serious underperformance, the order aims to exempt Schedule Policy/Career positions from these procedures to enable greater accountability.
Senior policy-influencing roles must be moved into this new category to increase accountability. The order also directs executive departments and agencies to appropriately recognize and reward outstanding work by employees in these positions.
The executive order amends provisions of the Civil Service Rules to implement these changes, including modifications to Civil Service Rule I on employee status and Civil Service Rule III.