DPE Condemns the Trump Administration’s Finalized Schedule Policy/Career Rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2026 - Today, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) finalized a rule that will reclassify large segments of the federal workforce as Schedule Policy/Career (P/C), which strips career employees of many civil service protections and allows them to be fired without cause. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to news of the finalized Schedule P/C rule:

“OPM’s implementation of the new Schedule P/C rule means that many career federal employees, including members of DPE affiliate unions, will lose longstanding due process protections meant to shield them from partisan interference and influence. Consequently, Schedule P/C jeopardizes the professional integrity of scientists, engineers, healthcare providers, inspectors, and other specialists working for the federal government, and that should alarm every American. It will now be harder for the professionals like those who keep our food supply safe, our water clean, and our veterans cared for to do their jobs solely in the interest of the American people. 

DPE joins its affiliate unions in the federal sector in calling on Congress to pass the bipartisan Saving the Civil Service Act. Career federal employees should not be put in a position where they could have to choose between keeping their jobs or compromising their professional integrity.”

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.