Implementing Schedule Policy/career In The Excepted Service

The order creates a new employment category for policy-influencing federal workers—making removal for misconduct or poor performance simpler and enabling agencies to better reward performance. It aims to boost accountability and merit-based recognition in the civil service.

What the order does ​

• Establishes "Schedule Policy/Career" for confidential, policy-making, or policy-advocating roles.
• Transfers senior policy-influencing positions to this new schedule.
• Exempts these positions from standard adverse action procedures, easing termination for misconduct or poor performance.
• Requires agencies to use merit-based hiring with veteran preference for these jobs.
• Directs agencies to identify, record, and notify affected employees of the change.
• Creates dedicated bonus pools and a potential Presidential award for standout employees in these positions.
• Updates civil service rules and amends prior executive orders to implement these changes.

Who it affects ​

• Federal employees in policy-related, confidential, or advisory positions.
• Agency heads and human resources staff.
• New or existing federal employees hired into or working in eligible roles.

Context ​

Seeks to address concern that existing rules make it difficult for agencies to remove underperforming or problematic policy staff.