In a decisive move, the Trump administration announced key executive measures that could significantly impact the nation’s 2.3 million federal workforce, including agencies focused on housing.
Major Actions Taken
On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office for his first day back in office.
He wasted no time in signing a series of executive orders aimed at reversing the previous administration’s policies and redefining federal priorities.
One of the major actions taken was a hiring freeze for federal employees, coupled with a mandate for staff to return to their physical offices.
This directive may lead many federal employees to reconsider their current roles within the government.
Hiring Freeze in Effect
The president’s order imposes a freeze on hiring new civilian federal employees across all executive branches.
As of January 20, 2025, any vacant positions must remain unfilled unless there are specific legal exceptions or provisions allowing for new appointments.
The requirement for returning to in-person work is straightforward yet carries profound implications for the federal workforce.
Under this new directive, heads of departments and agencies must promptly end remote work arrangements, insisting that employees return to their workplaces full-time.
While exceptions can be made at the discretion of agency leaders, the overall expectation is clear.
Contemplating ‘Schedule F’ Reformation
In addition to the hiring freeze and the push for in-person work, Trump is considering changes aimed at streamlining the process for dismissing career civil servants.
The initiative is intended to enhance standards of professionalism and accountability within the federal workforce.
Observations from the White House reveal concerns that only a small fraction of supervisors feel equipped to handle misconduct appropriately.
To tackle these accountability issues, Trump is weighing the reinstatement of a classification known as “Schedule F.” This approach would allow certain civil service roles to be treated similarly to political appointments, thus providing greater flexibility in managing these positions.
This proposal aligns with the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” which advocates for the reclassification of many positions currently held by career officials to better mirror political appointments.
With these new directives, the Trump administration is poised to reshape the landscape of the federal workforce, prompting a reassessment among employees while navigating potential union disputes.
Source: Housingwire