U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia’s 10th District released a statement on Mar. 12 regarding a new rule from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that would allow the president to reclassify about 50,000 federal workers as “at will” employees under a new category called Schedule Policy/Career (Schedule P/C).
The rule could be finalized by executive order this week, raising concerns among lawmakers and federal employees about job security and protections for government workers.
Subramanyam said, “This administration has already taken a chainsaw to our federal workforce and led a misguided, partisan war against all federal workers and contractors since taking office.” He continued, “Trump wants unilateral control over our federal workforce, and in doing so, he has eliminated hundreds of years’ worth of experience, knowledge, and expertise. These efforts jeopardize the safety and security of the American people every day. There are nearly 40,000 federal workers and contractors in my district. They are not only our hardworking neighbors and friends, but a critical part of our economy and community. This new OPM rule is just another way to harm those who serve us and prevent potential opposition to Trump’s agenda.”
Under the proposed Schedule P/C classification, affected employees would lose rights to appeal terminations that they previously had. This includes reviews and appeals by the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board, as well as eligibility for recruitment, retention, and relocation incentives.
The debate over these changes highlights ongoing tensions between the administration’s approach to managing the federal workforce and concerns about maintaining experienced personnel within government agencies.
