Trump's Bold Move: Overhauling America's Civil Service

On Thursday, the Trump administration announced sweeping changes to the U.S. federal civil service system, as confirmed by a government statement. This overhaul grants the president newfound authority over hiring and firing, affecting around 50,000 career federal employees. The reform, orchestrated by the Office of Personnel Management, is part of a campaign pledge by President Donald Trump to remove protections from federal workers allegedly swaying government policy. This overhaul, termed 'Schedule F,' marks the largest civil service reform in over a century.

Additionally, the administration is altering how long-standing legal protections for whistleblowers within U.S. government agencies are enforced. According to the statement, federal agencies themselves will now devise job protections for staff alleging wrongdoing, such as legal violations or financial mismanagement. Previously, an independent body, the Office of the Special Counsel, managed such disclosures from most civilian federal employees. Reuters had earlier reported the anticipated implementation of these changes by the Trump administration.