As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, reports indicate a wave of anxiety among federal employees who fear mass firings and drastic policy changes. According to CNN’s national correspondent René Marsh, some federal workers have described their apprehension as akin to “PTSD,” with many dreading the reinstatement of a controversial executive order from Trump’s first term.
“We are in a dystopian hellscape,” one federal worker texted Marsh, a sentiment she said is shared by many of the roughly two million federal employees anticipating Trump’s return to office. The sense of fear stems largely from Trump’s campaign promise to reinstate Schedule F, an executive order he signed in 2020 that would classify tens of thousands of federal employees as at-will workers, making them easier to remove.
Former Trump appointee Ronald Sanders told CNN that reinstating Schedule F could be “problematic,” as it would potentially allow the administration to replace career civil servants with political loyalists. “The objective is to create space to put loyalists in what are still career civil service positions,” Sanders explained, raising concerns about the erosion of nonpartisan government functions.
Across the federal workforce, employees are reportedly discussing the potential upheaval. “I would say there is a general feeling of dread among everyone,” an Energy Department employee shared with CNN. At the Environmental Protection Agency, a worker described the atmosphere as tense, stating, “We are absolutely having conversations among ourselves about whether we can stomach a round two.”
The anxiety among federal workers reflects broader concerns about Trump’s plans for his second term, including his intention to root out what he has called the “deep state.” During his campaign, Trump repeatedly criticized federal employees he viewed as obstructing his agenda and suggested that his next administration would be quick to remove those seen as disloyal.
Marsh noted that the reinstatement of Schedule F could pave the way for mass firings of federal employees who are perceived to be unsupportive of Trump’s policies. “As you know, Trump has obsessed about the idea of federal workers being agents of the deep state working against him and his agenda,” Marsh said. “Some of the employees who lived through the first Trump administration say they are experiencing PTSD.”
In an effort to counter potential mass firings, the Biden administration implemented new regulations in April aimed at protecting career civil servants. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which oversees federal employment, enacted rules making it more difficult for political appointees to reclassify federal employees into at-will positions, which are easier to terminate.
President Biden touted the new regulations as “a step toward combatting corruption and partisan interference,” arguing that they would help ensure civil servants remain focused on their primary mission: delivering for the American people.
Despite these protections, the looming return of Schedule F has federal employees on edge. Concerns about widespread firings and increased political interference have permeated agencies across the government, as Trump’s rhetoric and campaign promises suggest a more aggressive approach to reshaping the federal workforce in his second term.
With Trump’s inauguration approaching, the unease among federal workers underscores the deep political divide and highlights the potential challenges the incoming administration may face as it seeks to implement its agenda while navigating a wary and anxious federal bureaucracy.