Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce

January 20, 2025

Presidential Actions

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Action Summary

Purpose: Reassert presidential authority over the Federal workforce by restoring accountability in policy-influencing positions, addressing shortcomings in current supervisory controls.
Reinstatement of Prior Administration Policy: Immediately reinstates Executive Order 13957 (October 21, 2020) on creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service, with the current order’s date retroactively applied.
Amendments to Prior Policy:
- Designation Change: Replaces the letter “F” with “Policy/Career” across the document.
- Text Modifications: Updates language in sections 1, 4, and 5 to clarify supervisory authority, revision of adverse action procedures, and responsibilities regarding policy implementation.
- Political Independence: States that employees in Schedule Policy/Career positions are not required to politically support the current President or his policies, only to faithfully implement administration policies.
Conforming Regulatory Changes: Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to amend Civil Service Regulations, rescinding changes from the final rule of April 9, 2024, ensuring affected regulations are held inoperative until revised.
Additional Positions for Consideration: Requires issuance of guidance within 30 days for identifying further categories of positions suitable for placement within Schedule Policy/Career.
Revocation: Revokes Executive Order 14003 (January 22, 2021) and mandates that related agency actions on workforce discipline and performance policies be reviewed and, if necessary, suspended, revised, or rescinded.
General Provisions: Affirms that the order adheres to existing legal authorities, maintains appropriate departmental functions, and does not create enforceable private rights.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order reinstates and amends policies that emphasize accountability within the federal workforce, particularly for those in policy-influencing positions. This could lead to increased scrutiny and potential turnover in federal positions, affecting stability and continuity in federal programs and initiatives.
The reinstatement of Executive Order 13957, now amended to “Policy/Career,” may result in changes to how federal positions are classified and managed, potentially impacting collaborations and partnerships with federal agencies.
There is a risk that the focus on accountability could lead to a more politicized federal workforce, where employees may feel pressured to align with the administration’s policies, affecting morale and job security.
Vanderbilt University may need to consider how these changes could impact its research collaborations and funding opportunities with federal agencies, particularly if there are shifts in policy priorities or personnel.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Government Relations Office may need to closely monitor changes in federal workforce policies to anticipate and adapt to shifts in federal agency priorities and personnel.
Research centers and institutes at Vanderbilt that rely on federal funding or partnerships may need to reassess their strategies to align with potential changes in federal agency leadership and policy focus.
The Office of Federal Relations might need to engage more actively with federal agencies to ensure continued support and collaboration amidst potential changes in workforce dynamics.

Financial Impact

Changes in federal workforce policies could affect the availability and distribution of federal research grants, necessitating adjustments in Vanderbilt’s grant application strategies.
Potential turnover and reclassification of federal positions may lead to delays or disruptions in federally funded projects, impacting timelines and financial planning for ongoing research initiatives.
Vanderbilt may need to explore alternative funding sources or partnerships to mitigate potential risks associated with changes in federal workforce policies and priorities.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks involving compliance or ethics, particularly in relation to federal collaborations and funding opportunities.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor changes in federal workforce policies, particularly those related to policy-influencing positions, to understand potential impacts on federal funding and partnerships. This will help the university anticipate shifts in federal priorities and align its strategies accordingly.
Human Resources should review the implications of the reinstated Executive Order 13957 on hiring and employment practices, especially for positions that may interact with federal agencies. Ensuring compliance with new federal guidelines will be crucial to maintaining strong relationships with government partners.
Vanderbilt’s Political Science Department could explore research opportunities related to the impact of federal workforce accountability measures on policy implementation. This research could provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of such measures and contribute to broader discussions on governance and public administration.

Opportunities

The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Law School to engage in legal analysis and scholarship on the implications of changes to civil service regulations. By examining the legal frameworks and potential challenges, the Law School can contribute to the national dialogue on federal workforce reforms.
Vanderbilt’s Center for Effective Lawmaking can leverage this executive order to study the impact of policy-influencing positions on legislative processes and outcomes. This research can enhance understanding of how federal workforce changes affect policy development and implementation.

Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to align with changes in federal workforce policies.)

Average Relevance Score: 4

Timeline for Implementation

Immediate Effect: Executive Order 13957 is reinstated immediately, effective January 20, 2025.
Guidance Issuance: The Director must issue guidance on additional positions within 30 days of the order date (January 20, 2025).

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

Office of Personnel Management (OPM): The Director is explicitly tasked to amend Civil Service Regulations and coordinate the implementation of the reinstated and amended Executive Order, making OPM a principal agency impacted by this order.
Executive Office of the President: The order requires consultation with and guidance from this office regarding additional positions, thereby impacting its role in overseeing policy directives for the Federal workforce.
Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Each department and agency is required to review and adjust their existing personnel actions to comply with the order, thus broadening the impact across nearly all Federal agencies.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): The order reaffirms that its functions remain intact, linking budgetary and administrative oversight to the implementation of the order.

Relevance Score: 5 (The directive applies to a wide range of federal organizations across the executive branch, including central agencies and all executive departments and agencies.)

Responsible Officials

Director of the Office of Personnel Management – Tasked with amending Civil Service Regulations (Section 4) and issuing guidance on additional categories of Schedule Policy/Career positions (Section 5).
Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies – Required to review and address existing agency actions under Section 6 to suspend, revise, or rescind certain disciplinary policies.

Relevance Score: 4 (Directives primarily affect agency heads with significant decision-making authority).