Federal Workforce Cuts and Schedule Policy/Career

Federal employees often ask what the rest of 2026 may hold for the civil service. Recent comments from senior administration officials offer a clearer picture—and they carry significant implications for career federal workers.

At a March 5 government efficiency conference in Washington, OMB Deputy Director Eric Ueland stated that reducing the size of the federal government and its workforce remains the administration’s “priority number one.” The statement came after a period in which the federal workforce has already shrunk by more than 300,000 employees. For federal workers trying to understand where policy is heading, this language signals that workforce reductions are not a temporary initiative but a continuing strategy.

Understanding how that strategy may unfold is essential for anyone serving in the federal government today.

The Role of Schedule Policy/Career

During the same panel discussion, Ueland addressed the administration’s plan to implement Schedule Policy/Career. This classification is expected to convert tens of thousands of career civil service positions into at-will roles.

That change would significantly alter the legal framework governing federal employment. Traditional civil service protections provide procedural safeguards before discipline or termination, including notice requirements, the opportunity to respond, and the right to appeal adverse actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board. These protections are rooted in the Civil Service Reform Act and decades of federal employment law.

Schedule Policy/Career would remove many of those safeguards for positions that are converted. Employees placed in the new schedule could face discipline or termination without the same procedural protections that career civil servants historically relied upon.

How the Administration Is Framing the Change

Ueland characterized these changes as empowering federal employees. He described the removal of existing protections as “a real empowerment” and suggested workers would be “liberated” from what he called rigid rules and processes.

From a legal standpoint, however, it is important to recognize what those rules and processes actually represent. Civil service protections exist to ensure that federal employees can perform their duties without political pressure or arbitrary removal. They are not merely bureaucratic steps; they are the legal architecture that supports a merit-based civil service.

Understanding the difference between policy messaging and legal reality can help federal employees evaluate how proposed changes might affect their careers.

What Agency Leaders Are Saying

OPM Director Scott Kupor, who appeared on the same panel, reinforced the broader message about the future of federal employment. While he noted that OPM is not currently assigning agencies specific workforce reduction targets, he emphasized that agencies will be expected to accomplish more without adding staff.

He also reiterated a point he has made previously: the federal government cannot guarantee permanent employment.

For federal employees, that statement reflects a shift away from the traditional expectation of long-term career stability within the civil service.

Preparation, Not Panic

Moments like this often create understandable anxiety among federal workers. But the most productive response is preparation rather than panic.

Preparation means understanding how changes to civil service rules may affect a particular position, keeping careful records of performance and duties, and staying informed as policies evolve. It also means recognizing that the legal landscape governing federal employment is actively developing, including litigation challenging some of these reforms.

A calm, informed approach helps federal employees maintain perspective while protecting their careers.

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. While I am a federal employment attorney, this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is unique, and legal outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances.