I am writing to express my deep concern about the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) efforts to finalize regulations that would implement Schedule Policy/Career, formerly known as Schedule F. This new job classification within the government's excepted service threatens the foundation of our non-partisan civil service system and must be stopped.
The proposed regulations would strip an estimated 50,000 - 200,000 federal employees of their civil service protections. These employees, transferred to Schedule Policy/Career, would lose crucial removal protections and appeal rights. This change opens the door to politically motivated firings and undermines the apolitical nature of our career civil service.
While OPM claims this rule is not intended for mass firings, the potential for abuse is clear. The justification of addressing "resistance to policy" is particularly alarming, as it could be used to silence dissent and remove employees who provide valuable, experience-based input on policy implementation.
It's worth noting that this proposal has faced significant public opposition. Of the 40,500 public comments received, an overwhelming 94% were against the implementation of this rule. This level of public concern should not be ignored.
The timing of this action is critical. As OPM finalizes these regulations, it's imperative that Congress acts swiftly to defend the non-partisan civil service. The integrity of our government institutions and the continuity of essential services depend on maintaining a professional, apolitical workforce.
I urge you to speak out against the implementation of Schedule Policy/Career and take immediate legislative action to prevent the reclassification of career civil servants. Our democracy relies on a stable, experienced, and non-partisan civil service. Please act now to protect this crucial workforce from political interference.
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