Trump expands at-will firing to 8,000 senior federal workers

President Trump signed an executive order reclassifying about 8,000 senior federal workers into Schedule F, expanding at-will firing rights for policy-focused staff. The move is part of a broader effort to transform the federal workforce and has sparked lawsuits arguing it would politicize the civil service, though officials say it will not recreate the spoils system and that the majority of those affected are at or near GS-15 pay grade. The government initially projected far more positions could be reclassified, but the actual impact is smaller.