Trump Federal Hiring Order: Legal Showdowns and National Backlash

The Trump administration’s push to reshape the federal workforce through large-scale layoffs and the controversial Schedule F order continues to face serious legal roadblocks and nationwide scrutiny.

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What Is the Trump Federal Hiring Order?

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In 2020 and again in early 2025, Donald Trump issued executive orders aimed at giving the executive branch more control over federal hiring and firing, especially targeting policy-making roles. Most notably, the Schedule F classification would remove traditional civil service protections from thousands of federal employees, enabling easier termination and appointment aligned with the administration's agenda.

In 2025, this effort escalated when Trump signed a new executive order directing agencies to prepare for large-scale Reductions in Force (RIFs). However, this triggered immediate legal action.

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Legal Pushback and Court Rulings

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A coalition of labor unions, advocacy groups, and local governments sued to block the implementation of the order, calling it an unlawful overreach. Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Illston initially issued a temporary restraining order on May 9, preventing any federal workforce cuts.

The administration responded by escalating the matter to the Supreme Court, claiming the judge's ruling caused "mass confusion" within the executive branch. However, after Judge Illston replaced the original order with a new preliminary injunction, the Trump administration withdrew its initial Supreme Court request and redirected its efforts to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to halt the injunction while the legal process unfolds.

The government could return to the Supreme Court depending on how the appeals court rules.

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Public and Political Backlash

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The reintroduction of Schedule F has reignited fierce public criticism. More than 1 million public comments were submitted, with many accusing the policy of eroding the nonpartisan nature of the civil service. Federal employee unions like the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) have voiced strong opposition, arguing the order undermines merit-based protections and threatens the impartiality of public service.

The NTEU lawsuit, backed by other unions, challenges the legality of reclassifying civil servants under Schedule F, which they argue violates due process and promotes political loyalty over competence.

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What Happens Next?

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With the preliminary injunction in effect, the Trump administration is legally barred from proceeding with RIFs for now. However, this is an evolving legal battle that could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court again.

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federal hiring freeze update

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What is Schedule F?

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Schedule F is a federal employment classification introduced by former President Donald Trump in 2020. It aimed to reclassify certain policy-making civil service positions as “excepted service,” removing traditional job protections like due process rights.

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This would make it easier for the executive branch to hire and fire employees in these roles. Critics argue it undermines the merit-based civil service system and politicises federal employment. The classification was revoked by President Biden in 2021 but revived by Trump in 2025.

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Final Thoughts

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The Trump federal hiring order represents more than an HR policy—it’s a high-stakes clash over the future of the U.S. civil service. While the administration frames it as a push for accountability, opponents argue it’s a dangerous path to politicising a traditionally neutral federal workforce. As courts weigh in, the outcome will shape the structure and independence of federal employment for years to come.

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