OPM’s Proposed Rule

NARFE has published a statement on Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Proposed Rule “Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service,” 90 Fed. Reg. 17182 (April 23, 2025). NARFE President Bill Shackelford addresses major concern that civilian government positions will be converted from non-partisan to political positions allowing firing at the whim of the current and future administrations.

NARFE is not the only organization concerned with this issue.  Check this article by the Democracy Forward: More than 115 Organizations Urge Trump-Vance Administration: Don’t Politicize the Civil Service. Proposed Rule Would Undermine Civil Service Protections and Enable Political Retaliation.

Whether you are a current civilian employee or a retired federal employee this should concern you.  These conversions would be decision makers throughout agencies that decide your related benefits.  Decisions would be made based on politics and not what is the best for the employee and retiree.