IN BRIEF: Last week, President Trump issued an executive order reinstating Schedule F. This move could strip civil servants of their employment protections and expose them to political coercion or bullying.
WHY IT MATTERS: By reclassifying certain federal workers as political appointees, it would be easier for the administration to fire workers who are not willing to carry out harmful policies as part of a political agenda. Partisan attacks on the federal workforce undermine our government’s ability to take care of its people and put many of the services people rely on in their daily lives at risk: food inspections, disaster relief programs, care for veterans, Social Security, and even home loans.
It’s also clear that the Schedule F Executive Order would have an outsized impact on Black people and could undermine the economic stability of tens of thousands of Black workers by leaving them without a source of income, health insurance, and other benefits.
For generations, Black families have relied on federal employment as a source of non-discriminatory employment and a path to economic prosperity and stability. In fact, as of 2023, Black people comprised nearly 19% of the federal workforce, compared to 13% participation in the private sector.
ON THE HORIZON: The policies spelled out in the Schedule F Executive Order will take several months to take effect — and there has already been at least one lawsuit challenging the order. The suit was brought by the National Treasury Employees Union, which represents roughly 50,000 federal workers. Meanwhile, President Trump has placed all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion workers on leave.
LDF AT WORK: The Legal Defense Fund is actively monitoring changes throughout the federal government and will work to ensure federal workers are aware of their rights and how to best protect themselves during this time of flux and change.
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