Trump’s Controversial Executive Order: Loyalty Over Neutrality in the Federal Workforce
The Return of “Schedule G” Raises Fears of Political Purges and the Collapse of Civil Service Independence.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited controversy by signing a sweeping executive order that could reshape the federal government’s employment structure and deeply politicize civil service operations. The order, which revives a concept known as “Schedule G,” allows the president to reclassify thousands of federal employees—especially those involved in policymaking and regulatory oversight—as at-will employees. This move grants the executive branch unprecedented authority to hire and fire based on loyalty rather than merit or qualifications.
What Is Schedule G?
The newly signed order reintroduces and expands the former “Schedule F,” a Trump-era initiative that was dismantled by the Biden administration. Under the new “Schedule G,” a broad range of civil servants can be removed from traditional protections and instead be classified as political appointees. This means their job security hinges on their alignment with the president’s agenda.
According to the White House, the goal is to increase accountability and efficiency in federal agencies and break what Trump and his allies call the “deep state”—a supposed entrenched bureaucracy resistant to elected leadership.
Critics Sound the Alarm
Policy experts and democracy watchdogs have condemned the order as a direct threat to the independence of America’s civil service. Donald Moynihan, a public policy professor, stated bluntly:
“This gives Trump the ability to fill top federal jobs with loyalists without any cap. It guts institutional expertise.”
Max Stier, president of the Partnership for Public Service, warned that Schedule G could weaken the professionalism of federal agencies and destabilize government functions.
“It’s not just about efficiency. It’s about turning nonpartisan institutions into instruments of political power,” he said.
The Role of Project 2025
This order is part of a larger initiative known as Project 2025, a transition plan led by conservative think tanks aiming to remake the federal government. Project 2025 lays out a blueprint for dismantling independent agencies and centralizing power in the White House. Critics argue that this could transform the federal bureaucracy into a partisan tool, eliminating dissent and expertise.
By instituting Schedule G, Trump aims to ensure that anyone involved in shaping or implementing policy must be in ideological lockstep with him. The result could be the purging of technocrats, scientists, and career public servants whose work is critical to areas like public health, environmental regulation, and national security.
Implications for Democracy
The executive order has sparked fears that, if implemented, it would erode a foundational principle of American democracy: an impartial, nonpartisan civil service. Experts warn that this shift could lead to politically motivated firings, encourage self-censorship among public officials, and even affect the implementation of laws passed by Congress.
If a second Trump term materializes, Schedule G could give him near-total control over the executive branch, replacing expert governance with loyalty-driven decision-making—a dramatic departure from democratic norms.
