Latest news with #ScheduleF
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump reclassifies some federal workers
July 17: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday creating a new classification of non-career federal workers who can more easily be fired if they fail to carry out a president's priorities, the White House said. The new classification, called Schedule G, will be for employees involved in policy making who will now be expected to leave their positions when the president who appointed them leaves office, according to a White House fact sheet. The White House did not provide details on how many workers would be put into this new classification. Earlier this year, Trump signaled the change, saying the federal government will finally be 'run like a business.' The executive order will likely strip vast numbers of the roughly 2.3 million federal workforce of their job protections by effectively making them employees at will. Trump ordered the reclassification of many government workers at the end of his first term, known as Schedule F, which former Democratic President Joe Biden rescinded on his first day in office in 2021. Estimates then were that Schedule F could have made at least 50,000 federal workers vulnerable to being fired. - Reuters
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Trump reclassifies some federal workers, making them easier to fire
July 17: U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday creating a new classification of non-career federal workers who can more easily be fired if they fail to carry out a president's priorities, the White House said. The new classification, called Schedule G, will be for employees involved in policy making who will now be expected to leave their positions when the president who appointed them leaves office, according to a White House fact sheet. The White House did not provide details on how many workers would be put into this new classification. Earlier this year, Trump signaled the change, saying the federal government will finally be 'run like a business.' The executive order will likely strip vast numbers of the roughly 2.3 million federal workforce of their job protections by effectively making them employees at will. Trump ordered the reclassification of many government workers at the end of his first term, known as Schedule F, which former Democratic President Joe Biden rescinded on his first day in office in 2021. Estimates then were that Schedule F could have made at least 50,000 federal workers vulnerable to being fired. - Reuters
Sky News AU
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Top Donald Trump official calls US airstrikes on Iran ‘pointless,' suggests ‘deep state' swayed President
A top staffer in the federal agency overseeing personnel for the Trump administration has denounced the US strikes on Iran as 'pointless' and suggested the decision was made by members of DC's 'deep state.' Andrew Kloster, who serves as general counsel at the Office of Personnel Management, tweeted — and then deleted — a string of posts ripping the US for having sent 'handouts' to Israel in the past and for previously downplaying the threat of Tehran getting a nuclear weapon. Within a half-hour of President Trump announcing successful US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday night, Kloster wrote on X, 'I apologize and will never again doubt the power of the deep state.' In a response to an X user saying that 'Iran's nuclear sites being crushed seems a long-term benefit for the US,' Kloster wrote, 'I think it was just kind of pointless.' He also boosted a post from Vish Burra, disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos' ex-director of operations, that referred to Israel's conflict with Iran as a 'tribal squabble' after Tehran broke a cease-fire Trump secured Monday night. The posts — still visible as of Tuesday morning — have since been deleted. The senior official's candid commentary is extremely unusual — due in part to the fact that he can be fired at will as a political appointee. OPM also has a role in implementing Trump's 'Schedule F' directive to ensure that non-political appointees in the federal bureaucracy are upholding the president's policies. In April, Trump tweeted that pursuant to one of his Day One executive orders, all career government employees would need to 'be held to the highest standards of conduct and performance. 'If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job,' Trump added. Kloster's posts reflected the broad unease among Trump's non-interventionist supporters who fear that US involvement in bombing Iran will trigger a prolonged conflict in the region, sap trillions of dollars more from the US Treasury and result in American deaths — after prior US interventions turned into quagmires in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had urged the president's jittery MAGA base ahead of the bombing mission to 'trust in Trump' to secure 'peace through strength.' Just two days after his unprecedented attack on Iran, Trump swiftly returned to his anti-war messaging — brokering a cease-fire Monday and then strong-arming both sides after violations Tuesday. A source close to the White House described Kloster's tweets as foolish. Kloster worked at the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during the final year of Trump's first term and also as a lawyer for then-Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz's congressional office from February 2023 until his resignation in November. He also had stints as deputy general counsel and later acting general counsel in OPM during the first Trump administration as well as in senior positions in the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency. The tweets are just the latest drama surrounding Trump appointees put in charge of filling his administration. Presidential Personnel Director Sergio Gor allegedly sparked Trump's feud this month with Elon Musk. Sources also revealed that Gor, the top administration official in charge of vetting job applicants, had not submitted paperwork for a standard government security clearance and that despite saying he's from Malta was not born on the Mediterranean island. 'Sergio Gor is a trusted adviser to President Trump and he has played a critical role in helping President Trump staff the most talented administration in history,' Leavitt has said in the past. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have also both praised Gor for his work filling out the staff of the second administration, with the latter touting his 'effort to ensure committed, principled America First advocates staff the President's government.' Kloster has been described by sources close to the White House as a close friend and ally of Gor. Kloster did not respond to Post requests for comment. The White House declined to comment. Originally published as Top Donald Trump official calls US airstrikes on Iran 'pointless,' suggests 'deep state' swayed President
New York Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Andrew Kloster calls US airstrikes on Iran 'pointless,' suggests ‘deep state' swayed prez
WASHINGTON — A top staffer in the federal agency overseeing personnel for the Trump administration has denounced the US strikes on Iran as 'pointless' and suggested the decision was made by members of DC's 'deep state.' Andrew Kloster, who serves as general counsel at the Office of Personnel Management, tweeted — and then deleted — a string of posts ripping the US for having sent 'handouts' to Israel in the past and for previously downplaying the threat of Tehran getting a nuclear weapon. Within a half-hour of President Trump announcing successful US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday night, Kloster wrote on X, 'I apologize and will never again doubt the power of the deep state.' Advertisement 7 Top Trump administration staffer Andrew Kloster posted views on X within a half hour of the president announcing successful US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday night. Andrew Kloster/X 7 'I think it was just kind of pointless,' Kloster added Sunday in a response to an X user. Andrew Kloster/X In a response to an X user saying that 'Iran's nuclear sites being crushed seems a long-term benefit for the US,' Kloster wrote, 'I think it was just kind of pointless.' Advertisement He also boosted a post from Vish Burra, disgraced former New York Rep. George Santos' ex-director of operations, that referred to Israel's conflict with Iran as a 'tribal squabble' after Tehran broke a cease-fire Trump secured Monday night. The posts — still visible as of Tuesday morning — have since been deleted. 7 Kloster's commentary is extremely unusual — due in part to the fact that he can be fired at will as a political appointee. ARKloster/X The senior official's candid commentary is extremely unusual — due in part to the fact that he can be fired at will as a political appointee. Advertisement OPM also has a role in implementing Trump's 'Schedule F' directive to ensure that non-political appointees in the federal bureaucracy are upholding the president's policies. In April, Trump tweeted that pursuant to one of his Day One executive orders, all career government employees would need to 'be held to the highest standards of conduct and performance. 7 The Trump official also boosted another post that referred to Israel's conflict with Iran as a 'tribal squabble.' Andrew Kloster/X 'If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job,' Trump added. Advertisement Kloster's posts reflected the broad unease among Trump's non-interventionist supporters who fear that US involvement in bombing Iran will trigger a prolonged conflict in the region, sap trillions of dollars more from the US Treasury and result in American deaths — after prior US interventions turned into quagmires in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had urged the president's jittery MAGA base ahead of the bombing mission to 'trust in Trump' to secure 'peace through strength.' 7 Kloster's posts reflect the broad unease among Trump's non-interventionist supporters who fear US involvement in bombing Iran could trigger a prolonged conflict in the region. Planet Labs PBC/AFP via Getty Images Just two days after his unprecedented attack on Iran, Trump swiftly returned to his anti-war messaging — brokering a cease-fire Monday and then strong-arming both sides after violations Tuesday. A source close to the White House described Kloster's tweets as foolish. Kloster worked at the White House Office of Presidential Personnel during the final year of Trump's first term and also as a lawyer for then-Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz's congressional office from February 2023 until his resignation in November. He also had stints as deputy general counsel and later acting general counsel in OPM during the first Trump administration as well as in senior positions in the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency. 7 Just two days after his unprecedented attack on Iran, Trump swiftly returned to his anti-war messaging. via REUTERS Advertisement 7 The US used B-2 bombers to help nail Iran over the weekend. AP The tweets are just the latest drama surrounding Trump appointees put in charge of filling his administration. Presidential Personnel Director Sergio Gor allegedly sparked Trump's feud this month with Elon Musk. Sources also revealed that Gor, the top administration official in charge of vetting job applicants, had not submitted paperwork for a standard government security clearance and that despite saying he's from Malta was not born on the Mediterranean island. Advertisement Kloster has been described by sources close to the White House as a close friend and ally of Gor. Kloster did not respond to Post requests for comment. The White House declined to comment.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Russ Vought: key Project 2025 figure set to continue Trump cuts after Musk exit
Russ Vought's years-long quest to dismantle the federal workforce and consolidate power for the president is coming to fruition, and he may be given a major boost when he reportedly takes on Elon Musk's cost-cutting efforts as the billionaire bows out of the federal government. The director of the office of management and budget has worked alongside Musk's 'department of government efficiency' to slash through the federal government since Trump took office. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Vought would take on an increased public role in Washington as Musk transitions out and the president's budget process advances. The outlet reported that Vought could use the budget process to make some of Doge's cuts permanent. Vought embraces Christian nationalism and is more ideologically driven than Musk. He knows more intimately how to use the levers of government to enact his goals. He was a key figure in Project 2025, the conservative manifesto to guide a second Trump term, and authored a chapter on how to lead the agency he's again tasked with leading. His distaste for civil servants, the so-called 'deep state' that prevented Trump from carrying out his full agenda the first time, is profound. 'We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,' Vought said in a video obtained by ProPublica and the research group Documented in October. 'When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down … We want to put them in trauma.' Musk and Vought have forged a 'quiet alliance', Politico reported in March. Musk served as the public face of cutting the government, the wrecking ball whose team forced its way into federal agencies to access data to underpin cuts to spending. Vought and his team had the knowledge and precision to then parse that data and figure out whether and how to cut, Politico reported. A former official told the outlet that Vought was a ''by any means necessary' guy', grasping the political moment to serve his vision. Max Stier, who leads the Partnership for Public Service, a non-profit that seeks to advance the federal workforce, told Politico that the difference between the two men is that 'Vought wants to reshape our government into a bludgeon for his ideological vision, while Musk seems much more focused on destruction without understanding or care for the many harmful consequences of his actions'. Vought told the conservative commentator Tucker Carlson he thought Doge was 'bringing an exhilarating rush' and creativity to slashing the government, praising the agency's 'outside- the-box thinking [and] comfortability with risk and leverage'. Vought is expected to work on the new version of Schedule F, a proposal he advanced in Trump's first term that was revived, which would eliminate job protections for tens of thousands of career civil servants, making it easier to fire them and replace them with loyalists. Vought wants to flex executive power and exert the president's role over the federal budget by impounding funds, or not spending money Congress has already appropriated in its role as budget-maker. He's spoiling for a court battle on the topic, hoping the US supreme court will overturn the Impoundment Control Act, which limits impoundment. Before he was confirmed in his role, the office of management and budget sent a memo that created confusion and chaos nationwide when it called for a mass freeze on federal grants and funds in the early days of the Trump administration. That memo had 'Russ's name written all fucking over it', a Republican aide told Politico, though Vought was not formally tied to it. Vought served in Trump's first term as deputy director of the agency, then director, ending when Trump left office. Before his White House tenure, Vought was a fixture in rightwing politics in Washington, holding a variety of roles in Republican offices. Related: Russell Vought: Trump appointee who wants federal workers to be 'in trauma' After his time in the White House, Vought started the Center for Renewing America, an organization with a mission to 'renew a consensus of America as a nation under God' that has railed against critical race theory and progressive ideology. The center has recommended invoking the Insurrection Act and ending the Impoundment Control Act. The center, and Vought, contributed to Project 2025, which was helmed by the conservative thinktank the Heritage Foundation. In Project 2025's chapter on the office of the president, Vought lays out how the federal government is not beholden to the president's plan and is instead 'carrying out its own policy plans and preferences – or, worse yet, the policy plans and preferences of a radical, supposedly 'woke' faction of the country'. The bureaucracy believes it has independent authority and protection, making it too powerful to be reined in, Vought said. 'The great challenge confronting a conservative President is the existential need for aggressive use of the vast powers of the executive branch to return power – including power currently held by the executive branch – to the American people,' he wrote. As for his own role, the budget director 'must view his job as the best, most comprehensive approximation of the president's mind as it pertains to the policy agenda'. Vought, and the project writ large, call for mass firings of federal employees to better stock the workforce with Trump loyalists who will not stand in the way of his agenda. 'The overall situation is constitutionally dire, unsustainably expensive, and in urgent need of repair,' he wrote of the federal bureaucracy. 'Nothing less than the survival of self-governance in America is at stake.' Since Trump has taken office, a host of Project 2025-aligned proposals have been introduced or put in place, cementing the role the ideological document plays in the advancement of the rightwing agenda. The first wave of Project 2025-aligned actions has been conducted largely by executive orders. A second wave of recommendations requires the rule-making process at agencies, and others would require congressional action. In this more precise stage, Vought would carry out his plans to create long-term changes to how the federal government functions and operates. He has written the budget office plays a 'vital role in reining in the regulatory state'.
