Executive Order on Schedule F is a Double Entendre
If only workers in our federal government were subjected to the same levels of accountability as the salesmen in the film Glengarry Glen Ross. In that film, all of the under-performing salesmen were in a room and being read the riot act from their manager, who reminded them of the current sales contest. After telling them that first prize was a Cadillac, and second prize was a set of steak knives, everyone else was going to be fired.
Perhaps that’s a bit too drastic for federal workers but with a national debt rapidly approaching $40 Trillion, shouldn’t they start putting the coffee down and start earning our money? According to President Trump’s EO on Schedule F, that “F” may stand for “Fired”. Russ Vought, Trump’s Office and Management and Budged (OMB) Director near the end of Trump’s first term, is a huge proponent of Schedule F and is awaiting confirmation as OMB again.
Four-term U.S. Congressman, Jim Renacci provides a commonsense perspective on all of this. “I do not support unconditional employment devoid of consequences,” he said. “We live in a country where the majority of Americans work ‘at will’, meaning there are consequences for not doing your job. It’s called ‘accountability’ and I’m sorry if workers at the federal level are of the mind that such a concept doesn’t apply to them. This is a time for tough love and sensible decisions if we are to survive as a nation.”
The executive order is aimed at expediting the removal of underperforming senior federal managers. This action underscores the administration’s commitment to ensuring that federal agencies effectively implement the President’s policies and serve the American public with the highest standards of performance.
The executive order, titled “Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce,” seeks to streamline the process of dismissing senior federal managers who fail to meet performance expectations or resist the administration’s directives. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles, the order empowers agency leaders to take swift action against inefficiency and non-compliance within their ranks.
This initiative is a revival and enhancement of the “Schedule F” executive order introduced during President Trump’s first term. The original order aimed to reclassify certain federal positions to facilitate the removal of employees who were not effectively executing the administration’s policies. However, it faced significant opposition and was not fully implemented before the end of the term. The current order builds upon this foundation, incorporating lessons learned and addressing previous challenges to ensure more effective execution.
Critics of the executive order argue that it could lead to the politicization of the federal workforce, with concerns that it might be used to replace non-partisan career employees with political loyalists. Representative Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) has been a vocal opponent, introducing legislation aimed at nullifying the order. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a merit-based civil service system and warns against potential abuses of power.
In response to these concerns, the executive order explicitly states that employees in Schedule Policy/Career positions are not required to personally or politically support the current President or the administration’s policies. However, they are obligated to faithfully implement these policies to the best of their ability, consistent with their constitutional oath. Failure to do so constitutes grounds for dismissal.
Supporters of the order argue that it is a necessary step to overcome entrenched bureaucracy and ensure that the federal government operates efficiently and in alignment with the elected administration’s agenda. They contend that the ability to remove underperforming or non-compliant managers is crucial for effective governance and the successful implementation of policies that reflect the will of the American people.
The executive order also expands the categories of career civil service positions that can be reclassified under the new schedule, allowing for a broader application of its provisions. This expansion is designed to provide agency leaders with greater flexibility in managing their workforce and ensuring that key positions are filled by individuals committed to executing the administration’s policies.
This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reform the federal workforce. In addition to this executive order, the administration has directed federal agencies to begin terminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) positions and staff, as reported by The Epoch Times. These actions reflect a concerted strategy to reshape the federal workforce to better align with the administration’s priorities and to promote a culture of accountability and performance.
In conclusion, President Trump’s executive order represents a significant shift in federal workforce management, emphasizing accountability, efficiency, and alignment with the administration’s policy objectives. While it has sparked debate regarding the balance between political oversight and civil service protections, the administration maintains that these measures are essential for effective governance and the faithful execution of the President’s agenda.
Relevant Article(s):
Trump Signs Executive Order to Fire Top Career Federal Managers More Quickly | The Epoch Times
Q&A
- Why do you believe President Trump’s executive order to streamline the removal of federal managers is necessary for government accountability?
- Critics argue that this move could politicize the federal workforce—how do you respond to concerns that career employees might be replaced with political loyalists?
- You’ve spoken in support of Trump’s leadership—how do you see this executive order fitting into his broader strategy to ‘drain the swamp’?
- How does this order compare to the original ‘Schedule F’ initiative from Trump’s first term, and what improvements have been made to ensure its effectiveness?
- Some lawmakers, like Rep. Gerry Connolly, are pushing legislation to block this executive order. What do you think the chances are of such opposition succeeding?
- Beyond this executive order, what other reforms do you believe need to be made to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of the federal government?
- The Trump administration has also taken steps to eliminate DEI positions in federal agencies. How do you think this, along with the executive order, will impact the functioning of government agencies?
- What message do you think this executive order sends to both government employees and the American public about the direction of Trump’s second term?
Visit Jim’s Website at https://jimrenacci.com/
ABOUT JIM RENACCI…
Over 30 years ago, Jim Renacci moved to Ohio with a few hundred dollars, dreaming American dreams of starting a family and launching a business. Growing up in a blue-collar union family in western Pennsylvania, Jim Renacci was the first in his family to graduate from college.
Not only did the blue-collar entrepreneur realize his own dream, but Jim also became the answer to countless Ohioans.
Marrying his childhood sweetheart Tina, Jim started implementing his entrepreneurial vision of owning a small business, providing jobs and livelihoods for local families. As can only happen in America, the Ohioan entrepreneur soon laid claim to operating over 60 businesses, creating 1,500 new jobs, employing over 3,000 people statewide.
But politics had other plans. In 2009, the Obama Administration took over General Motors, shuttering dealerships across the country— including Jim’s in Northeast Ohio. Shutting down Jim’s dealership killed 50 good-paying jobs in his community — and Jim wasn’t going to stand by while neighbors were going hungry. How could Washington blatantly interfere in the everyday lives of hard-working Americans who wanted nothing more but their own chance at the American Dream?
In 2010, Jim filed to run for U.S. Congress in Ohio’s 16th Congressional District, taking on a well-funded Democratic incumbent. Jim won the election by 9 percent.
While in Congress, Jim earned a reputation for being a principled conservative and effective legislator. He quickly rose through the ranks to serve on the Committee on Financial Services, as vice-chair of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, and as a member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. After just two years, Jim was named to the powerful Ways and Means Committees and Budget Committees.
Jim’s track record as a blue-collar entrepreneur demonstrates his only allegiance has ever been to the very people who D.C. bureaucrats forcibly unemployed that fateful day in an Ohio car dealership — the everyday Americans forgotten by the Swamp. He represents the people’s hopes and fears, bringing actionable results back to the working people who gave him a voice.
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