President Signs Executive Order Reclassifying Tens of Thousands of Federal Employees as At-Will Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant restructuring of the federal workforce, the President signed an executive order on Monday reclassifying a broad swath of career civil servants as at-will federal workers. The directive, effective immediately, removes standard employment protections, including notice requirements and appeal rights, for an estimated 25% of the domestic civilian workforce. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the measure is intended to enhance government efficiency and accountability by granting agency heads greater hiring and firing flexibility. Critics, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), argue the order will politicize nonpartisan roles and destabilize federal operations. The Office of Personnel Management will oversee implementation, with affected departments including Health and Human Services, Commerce, and Energy required to submit initial compliance plans within 30 days. This move marks one of the most significant overhauls of federal employment policy since 1883.