President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June 2026 reclassifying about 8,000 senior, policy-influencing federal positions into a new category the administration calls Schedule Policy/Career, a move it says will make top civil servants more accountable.
What the Order Does
The order targets roles at the highest levels of the civil service, largely positions classified as GS-15. According to the administration, the affected jobs include leaders of policy offices and their chiefs of staff, heads of regional offices, program managers, senior public affairs officers, and officials overseeing spending and grants.
Who Is Affected
- Roughly 8,000 senior policy-influencing positions are reclassified.
- Nearly all affected employees are at the GS-15 level.
- Roles span policy offices, regional leadership and program management.
- The category is named Schedule Policy/Career.
The Administration's Rationale
Supporters of the order argue that senior officials who shape policy should be more directly accountable to elected leadership. The administration frames the change as part of a broader effort to increase responsiveness within the federal workforce.
Concerns Raised
Federal employee organizations and some good-government groups have voiced concern that altering job protections for career staff could affect the independence and continuity of the civil service. Critics worry the change could make experienced officials easier to remove, while supporters say accountability has been lacking.
Context
The order is one of several workforce-related actions taken by the administration in 2026. Separately, reporting noted that the administration stripped certain job protections from thousands of federal workers earlier in the month, part of a wider reshaping of civil-service rules.
- The change builds on earlier federal workforce actions.
- Implementation details will determine the practical effect.
- Legal and legislative responses are possible.
As agencies begin applying the new classification, observers will be watching how it affects hiring, retention and the day-to-day operation of federal policy offices across the government.