ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 14171Executive OrderTrump 47 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 14171

Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce

Federal WorkforceFederal WorkforceDemocracy & GovernanceDemocracy & Governance

In simple terms

This executive order reinstates and renames the controversial "Schedule F" excepted-service classification created by the Trump administration in 2020 (now called "Schedule Policy/Career"), revokes Biden-era workforce protections from EO 14003, and directs the OPM Director to rescind a 2024 civil-service protection rule. It makes policy-influencing federal employees easier to remove by exempting them from standard competitive-service adverse-action procedures, while stating they need not personally support the President but must faithfully implement administration policies.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8625

Record & deadlines

  1. Signed

    Signed by the President

  2. FR published

    Published in the Federal Register · 90 FR 8625

    Federal Register PDF

  3. OPM Director issues guidance on additional position categories for Schedule Policy/Career

  4. Agency heads complete review and suspend/revise/rescind EO 14003 sec. 3(e)(v) and 3(f) actions

Key directives

  • Reinstate EO 13957 immediately with January 20, 2025 as effective date
  • Rename Schedule F to Schedule Policy/Career throughout
  • Amend EO 13957 sections 1, 4(a)(i), 4(b)(i), 5, and 6 as specified
  • Rescind April 9, 2024 'Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles' final rule
  • Hold 5 CFR part 302 subpart F and 5 CFR 210.102(b)(3)-(4) inoperative until rescissions complete
  • Issue guidance on additional position categories within 30 days
  • Revoke EO 14003 and cease enforcement of all related rules/regulations/guidance
  • Agency heads review and suspend/revise/rescind EO 14003 section 3(e)(v) and 3(f) actions ASAP

Who is ordered

Prior policyRollback

  • reinstateEO 13957 (Creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service)
  • revokeEO 14003 (Protecting the Federal Workforce)
  • rescindFinal rule 'Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles' (89 Fed. Reg. 24982, April 9, 2024)

Related orders

What to expect

Immediate

  • EO 13957 reinstated with full force (treated as dated January 20, 2025)
  • EO 14003 revoked; its rules/regulations/guidance no longer enforced
  • 5 CFR provisions held inoperative until rescissions completed

Near term (90d)

  • OPM Director must issue guidance on additional position categories (within 30 days)
  • OPM Director must promptly amend Civil Service Regulations to rescind April 9, 2024 rule changes
  • Agency heads must review and suspend/revise/rescind actions under EO 14003 sec. 3(e)(v) and 3(f)

Long term

  • Potential large-scale reclassification of career civil service positions to Schedule Policy/Career
  • Shift in federal employment norms toward at-will status for policy roles
  • Possible litigation over rescission of 2024 civil-service protections and reinstated schedule authority

Risks & tensions

  • Likely immediate litigation challenging reinstatement of Schedule F/Policy-Career authority
  • Conflict with merit-system principles and potential APA challenges to 5 CFR inoperative provision
  • Vague 'faithfully implement' standard creates uncertainty for employee speech and dissent protections
  • Mass reclassification could politicize traditionally neutral career roles
  • Democratic legitimacy tension: order cites presidential electoral accountability to justify weakening career civil-service protections
Executive Order 14171: Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce · Executive Orders