BREAKING: Trump Just Reshaped the Federal Workforce A new Executive Order signed April 24 makes it easier to fire federal employees during their probation period—and harder for them to gain permanent status. What just changed and why it matters:
1/ Trump’s new EO targets a long-standing rule: Federal employees serve a 1-year probationary period before gaining full job protections. The goal? Use that year to weed out poor performers. But Trump says agencies aren’t doing that.
2/ The order claims agencies routinely let weak hires “coast into tenure” without proper screening. So now, the default flips: No agency certification = automatic termination at the end of the probation period. No more silent approvals.
3/ Here’s what’s new: •Agencies must certify in writing that an employee’s continued employment is in the public interest •If not certified 30 days before the 1-year mark = termination •The burden is now on the employee to prove their value This is a seismic shift in federal
4/ The Executive Order also kills a key regulation: It eliminates Subpart H of Part 315, a longstanding rule that gave employees protections during their first year. In its place: Civil Service Rule XI A whole new system of oversight and evaluation.
5/ This rule applies to: •Competitive service employees (standard federal hires) •Excepted service employees (political, intelligence, etc.) •Postal Service new hires •Even first-time supervisors and managers Basically: if you’re new, you’re vulnerable.
6/ Under Rule XI, here’s how probation now works: •Must serve a full 1-year (or 2-year for some excepted roles) •Time off over 22 days extends the clock •Part-time & intermittent workers must meet full-day count And one break in service over 30 days = new probation.
7/ Why does this matter? Because once you pass probation, you gain MSPB (Merit Systems Protection Board) rights—aka job security. Under this EO, if your agency doesn’t proactively support you? You’re out. And appeals are sharply limited.
8/ Agencies now must: •ID every employee still in their probation window •Meet with them 60 days before the year ends •Decide whether to certify or terminate within 30 days of that end date This adds pressure on both managers and staff.
9/ Critics call this a setup for mass firings. They warn it could: •Be used to target political enemies •Undermine civil service protections •Create a climate of fear among new federal hires Supporters say it’ll streamline government and reward performance.
10/ The order is part of Trump’s broader strategy to reshape the federal bureaucracy. It follows his push to reclassify civil servants as “Schedule F”—making them easier to fire for political reasons. This EO may be just the opening move.
11/ Effective immediately, with key portions (like evaluations) rolling out over the next 90 days.