The Trump Administration Begins Process of Reclassifying Federal Workers

The Trump administration has recently initiated the process of reclassifying workers at certain government agencies to a new job category with fewer protections. This move, according to sources familiar with the situation and an email obtained by Reuters, is part of a broader plan announced by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.

These reclassifications are reportedly taking place at agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). While the exact number of employees being reclassified is unclear, it signals the administration’s intent to streamline the workforce and remove career civil servants who may oppose its policies.

An email sent to employees at NOAA’s fisheries branch informed them that they would soon be notified if they were on a preliminary list for reclassification submitted to the Department of Commerce. The email, seen by Reuters, emphasized that the list was subject to change and that there was no specific timeline provided for the reclassification process.

Similarly, some staff at the DOE have also been informed of their impending reclassification, as confirmed by another source familiar with the situation. Both agencies have refrained from commenting on these personnel matters, with a NOAA spokesperson stating that they do not discuss such issues publicly.

Most federal government employees hold career positions that are not tied to specific administrations and can only be terminated for cause. However, Trump’s executive order signed on January 20 created a new category of federal employees known as “schedule policy/career” who could be dismissed at will. The rationale behind this move was to address instances where career federal employees had reportedly resisted or undermined White House policies.

Although employees in this new category would still be considered career staff rather than political appointees, they would be expected to align with the administration’s agenda. Unions representing federal workers have raised concerns about this reclassification effort, viewing it as an attempt to politicize the federal workforce.

The affected employees at NOAA include supervisory researchers from various offices within the agency, such as the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; Oceanic and Atmospheric Research; National Ocean Service; and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. This reclassification effort was previously supported by Russell Vought, the current director of the Office of Management and Budget.

As the administration moves forward with these reclassifications, the implications for the federal workforce remain uncertain. The ongoing legal challenges and union opposition underscore the contentious nature of this initiative and its potential impact on government employees.

(Source: Reuters – Reporting by Leah Douglas; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Chizu Nomiyama)