A number of U.S. government employees will face mass dismissals under executive directives before President Donald Trump leaves the White House.
The directive allows agencies to reclassify employees involved in formulating policies into new ‘Schedule F’ categories without job protection.
All agencies involved must complete their comments on January 19, the day before Joe Biden's appointment as President.
Earlier, Real Clear Politics, White House Management and Budget Office reported that it had been asked to reclassify 88% of its workforce from 425 employees to new categories.
According to the White House in a statement issued, Trump issued the directive to streamline the Federal bureaucracy, increase accountability and make it easier to get rid of underperforming workers.
Currently, as many as 2 million people are reported to be serving as government employees.
The directive, however, received criticism from the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 700,000 Federal and Washington D.C. government employees as well as the National Treasury Workers Union, which represents 150,000 Federal employees.
In addition, leaders from 23 committees and sub-committees of the House of Representatives asked 61 Federal agency heads to provide ‘detailed information’ on any plans to reclassify government employees.
They are also asking for information on any political appointments by Trump that have been employed elsewhere or are being considered.
