A letter cites reports that agencies including the SSA are preparing to take a “maximalist” approach to designating positions as under Schedule Policy/Career. Image: Markus Stappen/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffA group of more than two dozen House and Senate Democrats has objected to finalization of the “Schedule Policy/Career” authority, the successor to Schedule F, predicting that the number of positions affected could far exceed the administration’s estimate of 50,000.
The letter to OPM comes as finalization of rules to carry out that authority draws closer; the comment period ends Friday (May 23) and the administration is expected to act quickly to issue final rules afterward. After that, the process of formally redesignating competitive service jobs of a “confidential, policy-determining, policymaking or policy-advocating character” into the excepted service is to move forward.
Similar to the comments made by other opponents of the policy, they said that “OPM’s failure to adequately define what factors constitute “confidential, policy determining, policymaking or policy-advocating character” leaves interpretation largely up to each agency and risks the policy being much more broadly implemented than initially disclosed.”
The letter cites reports that agencies including the SSA are preparing to take a “maximalist” approach to designating positions as under Schedule Policy/Career—for example by including support positions—which “foreshadows the wide-reaching implications of Schedule Political/Career which will negatively alter the federal workforce for decades to come.”
Federal employee organizations and outside experts on the government also have said the figure could be far higher, given how wide a net was cast by the few agencies that took substantial steps to carry out Schedule F before it was revoked—and given guidance from OPM giving agencies leeway on what types of positions they can include.
The letter also repeats arguments by opponents of Schedule Policy/Career in general. “Reclassifying civil service positions into the excepted service removes virtually all protections and rights currently afforded to civil servants. This includes due process and appeals rights that help ensure civil servants can conduct their duties without fear of politically-motivated removal or retaliatory measures,” they wrote.
“Removing these protections will make civil servants at-will employees and more susceptible to political pressures. Coupled with the Trump Administration’s efforts to relocate and terminate wide swaths of the federal workforce, Schedule Policy/Career reclassifications will negatively affect recruitment and retention efforts for federal worker,” they wrote.
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