Bill > HR697

This bill seeks to establish a new "Schedule Policy/Career" (Schedule F) within the federal government's excepted service, which would apply to career positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character that are not typically changed during presidential transitions. The bill asserts that federal employees derive their power from the President and must be accountable to the executive branch, with the goal of enabling the President and appointees to rely on employees in sensitive policy roles. Under this legislation, agency heads would be required to review their positions by April and August 2025, identifying roles that could be moved to Schedule F, with particular consideration given to positions involved in policy development, regulation drafting, and substantial discretionary functions. Employees in Schedule F would be required to faithfully implement administration policies while not being compelled to personally or politically support the current President. The bill also revokes a previous executive order protecting federal workforce policies and directs the Office of Personnel Management to create regulations facilitating this new scheduling approach. Importantly, the bill maintains that Schedule F employees are not required to personally support the current administration's policies, but must implement them consistently with their constitutional oath, with failure to do so potentially resulting in dismissal. The legislation aims to provide the President greater control over career civil service positions that significantly influence policy implementation.

Government Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/697/all-info