Trump administration to expedite removal of federal employees for misconduct
By lauraharris // 2025-06-05
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  • New OPM rules streamline the removal of federal employees engaged in misconduct (e.g., tax evasion, leaks) by expanding agencies' authority to reassess suitability post-hiring, closing loopholes that protect problematic workers.
  • The proposal targets civil service safeguards that make firing inefficient or unethical employees difficult, emphasizing that public service is a "privilege, not a right."
  • Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aims to slash bureaucracy, regulations and spending by 2026, calling it central to his "Save America" agenda.
  • Executive orders eliminate redundant agencies (e.g., Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service) and enforce a "10-to-1" deregulation policy, requiring new rules to justify economic benefits.
  • Citizens are encouraged to report government waste, while agencies must cut non-essential functions (e.g., leadership training programs) to prioritize efficiency and taxpayer savings.
The Trump administration has unveiled a major regulatory overhaul aimed at speeding up the removal of federal employees for misconduct to streamline government operations and hold civil servants accountable. The proposed rule, announced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on June 2, seeks to amend federal personnel vetting and disciplinary procedures, targeting workers whose behavior undermines public trust. Under the new rule, agencies would gain expanded authority to flag employees for "suitability action" if they engage in misconduct, including tax evasion, unauthorized leaks of sensitive information or other conduct "inconsistent with the public trust." The measure aims to close a loophole that has long frustrated officials: While federal job applicants undergo rigorous background checks, existing employees often retain their positions despite disqualifying behavior due to bureaucratic protections. Currently, most federal employees enjoy civil service protections, meaning they can only be fired for specific causes, such as misconduct or poor performance, and must be granted due process, including appeals and union representation. These safeguards have made it nearly impossible to dismiss problematic workers, even when their actions compromise government efficiency or integrity. (Related: Trump administration targets 200,000 probationary federal workers in sweeping workforce cuts.) "For too long, agencies have faced red tape when trying to remove employees who break the public's trust," OPM Acting Director Chuck Ezell said. "This proposed rule ensures misconduct is met with consequence and reinforces that public service is a privilege, not a right." The new rule, which is now open for public comment, would not convert federal employment to an at-will system but would provide agencies with a streamlined process to reassess an employee's suitability for their role if misconduct is discovered after hiring.

Trump aims to slash federal bureaucracy, regulations and spending

The policy change aligns with President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Workforce Optimization Initiative and reinforces his recent executive orders cracking down on poor performance and misbehavior in the federal workforce. In November, shortly after winning the presidential election, Trump launched DOGE to slash federal bureaucracy, regulations and spending. Trump framed the initiative as central to his "Save America" agenda, declaring it the "Manhattan Project of our time" to overhaul federal inefficiency by the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026. In line with this, Trump signed an executive order in March, titled "Eliminating Waste and Reducing Government Overreach," which eliminates or reduces the functions of multiple federal agencies while calling on citizens to help identify further inefficiencies. The order targets several agencies for downsizing, including the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the U.S. Agency for Global Media and the Minority Business Development Agency, to streamline government operations, including his signature "two-for-one" deregulation policy and the creation of DOGE. The White House emphasized that this executive order focuses on eliminating non-essential functions while maintaining legally required services. Agencies like the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Institute of Museum and Library Services will see their roles significantly reduced. The administration also highlighted its "10-to-1" deregulation initiative, ensuring that any new rule must be justified by clear economic or public benefits while removing outdated regulations. Trump.news has more stories related to this. Watch the video below that talks about Trump "winning" since he assumed office.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Elon Musk warns federal workers: Return to office or face termination.

Trump administration targets 200,000 probationary federal workers in sweeping workforce cuts.

Federal workers panic as DOGE audits expose culture of waste and incompetence.

University of Michigan shuts down DEI office amid federal funding cuts.

Johns Hopkins cuts 2,000 jobs after Trump ends $800m in federal funding.

Sources include: YourNews.com GovExec.com WhiteHouse.gov Brighteon.com
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