November 11, 2024
Federal employees who worked under President Donald Trump’s first term are expressing heightened anxiety over his return to office, with some saying they feel “PTSD” and dread the possibility of mass firings, according to a new report. CNN’s national correspondent René Marsh reported on CNN News Central that many among the nearly two million federal workers are apprehensive about Trump’s expected policy changes, including the potential reinstatement of Schedule F.
“We are in a dystopian hellscape. That is from a federal employee via text message last night, and that is the mindset of many federal workers anticipating Donald Trump’s return to office,” Marsh said during the segment.
One major source of unease is Trump’s plan to reinstate Schedule F, a 2020 executive order that would reclassify tens of thousands of federal employees as at-will workers, making them easier to dismiss. Trump initially introduced Schedule F in the final months of his first term as part of his effort to bring more accountability to the federal workforce, a move that was criticized by federal unions and was later rescinded by the Biden administration.
Ronald Sanders, a former Trump appointee, explained to CNN that Schedule F could become a “problematic” tool for enforcing loyalty within the government. “The objective is to create space to put loyalists in what were, and what are still, career civil service positions,” he said, warning that this might undermine the independence traditionally granted to career civil servants.
The fear of mass terminations has reportedly spread throughout government departments, with employees sharing their concerns with each other. An unnamed Energy Department employee described “a general feeling of dread,” while an Environmental Protection Agency worker told CNN, “We are absolutely having conversations among ourselves about whether we can stomach a round two.”
Marsh noted that many employees recall Trump’s first term as marked by his suspicion of a “deep state” working against his agenda, and this perception has only added to federal workers’ fears about potential retaliation for perceived disloyalty.
In response, the Biden administration enacted a rule in April making it harder to dismiss federal employees. President Biden promoted the rule as “a step toward combatting corruption and partisan interference to ensure civil servants are able to focus on the most important task at hand: delivering for the American people.” The Office of Personnel Management introduced new regulations to protect career civil servants from being reclassified as at-will employees, thereby ensuring greater job security.
The discussion around Schedule F and potential job cuts underscores broader concerns about the stability and independence of the civil service as Trump prepares to enter the White House for a second term. While Trump’s team argues that the policy could help remove inefficiencies within federal agencies, critics see it as a step toward politicizing what have traditionally been nonpartisan roles.
As Trump’s inauguration approaches, federal employees are left with lingering concerns about their positions under a new administration that appears ready to implement sweeping changes to government staffing.
Sources:
- CNN News Central
- AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File
- Fox News Digital
