Calls for repeal of regulations reinstating Schedule F by Connolly

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has recently published a proposed rule that aims to reclassify around 50,000 federal employees into a new job category known as Schedule Policy/Career. This move, according to critics, could potentially politicise the federal workforce and undermine the importance of nonpartisan civil servants.

Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., has been at the forefront of the opposition to this proposed regulation. In a letter to acting OPM Director Charles Ezell, Connolly decried the proposal as an effort to "purge and politicize" the federal workforce. He fears that the new rule would allow the Trump administration to replace veteran federal employees with political operatives.

The proposed rule outlines the process by which agencies should move to reclassify jobs within the federal government's competitive service into the new Schedule Policy/Career category. However, Connolly argues that this could inflict damage on the expertise and performance of the federal workforce, potentially hurting constituents and the life-saving services they need and deserve.

The Defense Nuclear Safety Board initially planned to classify just one job into Schedule Policy/Career, but quickly withdrew that determination. On the other hand, the Social Security Administration has ordered the application of Schedule Policy/Career to entire agency subcomponents and offices.

Employees converted to Schedule Policy/Career would effectively become at-will employees, a change that has raised concerns about job security and the potential for political favouritism. Connolly cites scandals involving incompetent Trump appointees as reasons for fewer political loyalists in government.

The Federal Election Commission has named only four positions that qualify as policy-related in a Federal Register filing this month. This suggests that the new job category, which represents around 2% of the civilian workforce, may not be as widespread as initially thought.

Rep. Connolly has expressed bipartisan opposition to the administration's proposed rule. He has called for its rescission and urged the administration to cease its political assault on the federal workforce. The proposed rule is open for public comment until May 23, and it remains to be seen whether the administration will heed the calls for change.

However, there is no publicly available information on which authority leaders have decided which positions will be converted into the new Schedule Policy/Career-Job categories. If this refers to federal or state reforms in Germany, this has not been mentioned in the documents found.

In conclusion, the proposed rule to reclassify federal employees into the Schedule Policy/Career category has sparked significant controversy. With concerns about job security, political favouritism, and the potential undermining of the federal workforce's expertise, it remains to be seen whether the administration will respond to the growing opposition.