President Joe Biden’s push to safeguard the federal government’s career employees from a potential Trump administration purge has taken a step toward finalization.
The White House completed its review of the Office of Personnel Management’s rule to strengthen civil service protections Monday, according to a notice posted on Reginfo.gov. The proposed rule is designed to block a Trump-era move to reclassify civil servants, making it easier to fire them.
The regulation, which is supported by federal unions and public interest groups, has taken on greater significance as the 2024 election campaign heats up. Biden will be squaring off again with former President Donald Trump, who has pledged to shake up agencies and downsize staff in a bid to dismantle “the Deep State” if he is elected.
“OPM is committed to protecting the rights of federal workers who deliver critical services for Americans in every community,” OPM spokesperson Viet Tran told E&E News when asked about the rule’s finished White House review.
