Introduction

In a sweeping move to reshape the U.S. government workforce, President Donald Trump issued a new executive order on Thursday that significantly alters the way federal employees achieve permanent status after their probationary period.
The order mandates that government agencies must now affirmatively review and approve an employee’s performance before granting them full employment rights—marking a sharp shift from prior practices where probationary employees automatically transitioned to permanent roles unless specifically terminated.

This executive order is part of a broader Trump administration initiative to make it easier to fire federal workers, cut down the size of government, and eliminate internal resistance to presidential policies.

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Key Changes Under the Executive Order

The executive order introduces several major changes to the federal employment process:

  

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• Mandatory Performance Reviews:
  Agencies are now required to conduct individualized performance evaluations before a probationary employee can gain permanent status.
• End of Automatic Conversion:
  Previously, federal workers who completed a typical one- to two-year probationary period were automatically converted to permanent status unless removed. That automatic shift is now eliminated.
• Increased Accountability:
  Trump stated that agencies had often failed to remove underperforming probationary workers, leading to long-term retention of employees who were ill-suited for their roles.
• Individualized Appeals Process:
  The order includes provisions for an appeals mechanism, allowing workers who are denied permanent status to challenge the decision.
• Deadline for New Federal Regulations:
  The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must issue formal guidelines within 30 days requiring all agencies to comply with the new probationary review rules.

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Why the Changes Matter

Trump’s move is aimed at addressing what he sees as systemic inefficiencies and protecting his administration’s agenda from internal dissenters.
Probationary employees historically enjoy fewer legal protections against termination than full-fledged federal workers. By tightening the probationary review process:

• Agencies can remove employees who are not aligned with their missions or expectations more easily.
• It becomes harder for employees who oppose administrative policies to secure long-term positions.
• The federal workforce may become more politically aligned with the administration in power, raising concerns about nonpartisan governance.

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Broader Workforce Reform Efforts

This executive order follows several other controversial efforts by Trump—and influential adviser Elon Musk—to reshape the federal bureaucracy:

• Mass Terminations:
  In February, about 25,000 probationary federal employees were fired, initially cited for poor performance. Many of these terminations were later challenged in court, with federal judges ordering reinstatement in numerous cases. However, many of these rulings are paused pending appeals.
• Reclassification of Policy Roles:
  The Trump administration has sought to reclassify an estimated 50,000 government jobs as policymaking positions. This move would strip these workers of civil service protections and allow for more politically motivated firings.
• Legal Challenges:
  Labor unions, nonprofit organizations, and Democrat-led states have filed numerous lawsuits challenging these reforms, arguing they politicize the federal workforce and undermine merit-based civil service principles.

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Reactions and Concerns

Critics argue that these actions threaten the traditional apolitical nature of the federal government:

• Union Opposition:
  Federal employee unions have condemned the order, stating it will lead to widespread instability, unfair firings, and political favoritism.
• Nonprofit and State Legal Action:
  Legal experts and civil rights organizations have raised alarms over potential violations of employee rights and constitutional protections.
• Democratic Lawmakers’ Response:
  Several Democratic officials have promised to fight these changes both in court and through legislative means if necessary.

Supporters, however, claim the move increases government efficiency and ensures that only competent and committed individuals remain employed in federal roles.

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What Happens Next?

Within 30 days, the OPM must establish and publish new rules detailing:

• Agency responsibilities for individualized probationary reviews
• Criteria for evaluating performance
• Procedures for appeals by terminated probationary employees

Agencies will then have to integrate these changes into their internal hiring and human resources protocols.
The results could deeply affect the composition, performance, and political leanings of the federal workforce moving into future administrations.

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FAQs

What is a probationary period for federal employees?

The probationary period is typically a one- to two-year trial phase during which federal employees are evaluated to determine if they should receive permanent status.

How did the rules work before Trump’s executive order?

Previously, most employees automatically became permanent after completing the probationary period unless they were actively terminated during that time.

What are the main concerns about the new probationary review process?

Critics worry that requiring affirmative performance reviews could lead to politically motivated firings, weaken merit-based hiring, and destabilize federal agencies.

Will terminated employees have any rights to appeal?

Yes. The executive order specifies that probationary employees who are denied permanent status must have an individualized appeals process available to them.

How does this fit into Trump’s broader efforts to reshape the government?

The order is part of a larger initiative, influenced by advisers like Elon Musk, aimed at shrinking the federal workforce, making it more loyal to the administration, and increasing managerial flexibility.