I am writing to express my strong opposition to 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 or more federal employees of their civil service protections. This change undermines the apolitical nature of our career civil service. The justification of addressing "resistance to policy" is particularly alarming, as it could be used to 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. It's imperative that you act 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 stop the implementation of Schedule Policy/Career and the reclassification of career civil servants. Our democracy relies on a stable, experienced, and non-partisan civil service.