Trump Administration Centralizes Control Over Federal Worker Appeals, Impacting Civil Service Protections
The Trump administration has implemented new rules to centralize control over federal worker appeals, moving authority from the independent Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This shift affects appeals related to federal layoffs, probationary employees, and workers' suitability for federal service. The new rules also limit the grounds on which probationary employees can appeal their termination, excluding discrimination claims typically handled by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Additionally, the OPM will prioritize performance over length of service in layoff decisions and will oversee evaluations of workers' character and conduct. This move is part of President Trump's broader efforts to exert more control over the federal civil service, which he perceives as obstructive to his agenda. 
