On June 3, 2026, a new executive order was issued finalizing the creation of ‘Schedule Policy/Career’ (sometimes referred to as ‘Schedule F’), and reassigning the (possibly first tranche of) executive branch employees into the new category of excepted service employees. The associated fact sheet for the executive order claimed that roughly 8,000 employees were affected. This leaves many employees wondering, “Does this apply to me?”
Schedule Policy/Career (as previously discussed in this blog) is a new excepted service category in which federal employees essentially become at-will employees, losing ordinary MSPB appeal rights and pre-termination due process rights, as well as MSPB and OSC protections from whistleblower reprisal (to be replaced with an in-agency grievance process at the same agency where the whistleblower reprisal occurred). The primary regulations for this Schedule (referred to at times as ‘Schedule F,’ in reference to an earlier version of this same proposal), were finalized in February 2026 and came into effect in March 2026. Under those rules, employees are only moved into the Schedule if their position is specifically designated as such by the President. The new executive order contained a 229-page Appendix, which then listed the positions so designated. Without a Presidential designation, the employee’s position remains unchanged and their civil service rights unaffected. Any future moves of employees into Schedule Policy/Career will require separate presidential actions to designate the positions first.
So, how does an employee determine if they are now in Schedule Policy Career? In almost all cases, the Appendix lists current Schedule Policy/Career positions by position number. The list is organized by agency and office, and then lists the covered position numbers and the specific job titles. The position number and precise title can be found on Standard Form 50 (SF-50) box 10 (or, if the SF-50 doesn’t list a position change, it may be in box 7); additionally, the position number should also be on the current position description, if available. Accordingly, in almost all cases, an employee can determine current coverage by going to the relevant agency and office in the Appendix, and then checking to see if their job title and position number are listed.
If you are a federal employee and wish to discuss how Schedule Policy/Career (a/k/a Schedule F) may impact your job and your rights, consider contacting Gilbert Employment Law to request an initial consultation.