Quick Hit: 

The Biden administration has implemented a new rule making it more difficult to fire federal workers, a move that comes as former President Trump promises a 'deep state' revamp. The rule aims to protect nonpartisan civil servants from political interference, ensuring they can carry out their responsibilities in the best interest of the American people.

Key Details: 

• The new rule bars career civil servants from being reclassified as political appointees or other at-will workers who can be easily dismissed.
• The rule is a response to "Schedule F," an executive order issued by Trump in 2020 that sought to reclassify federal employees and reduce their job security protections.
• The rule clarifies that civil service protections accrued by employees cannot be taken away regardless of job type and that policymaking classifications apply to non-career, political appointments.

Diving Deeper: 

The Office of Personnel Management, the government's chief human resources agency, implemented the new regulations on Thursday. This move is seen as a step towards combatting corruption and partisan interference, allowing civil servants to focus on delivering for the American people.

The rule comes in response to "Schedule F," an executive order issued by Trump in 2020. The order sought to reclassify tens of thousands of federal employees, reducing their job security protections. Biden nullified Schedule F upon taking office, but if Trump were to revive it during a second administration, he could dramatically increase the number of federal employees considered political appointees.

The new rule could counter a future Schedule F order by outlining procedural requirements for reclassifying federal employees. It also clarifies that civil service protections accrued by employees cannot be taken away regardless of job type and that policymaking classifications apply to non-career, political appointments.

The rule has been applauded by good government groups and liberal think tanks, who view cementing federal worker protections as a top priority. This is especially important given the conservative Heritage Foundation's "Project 2025," which calls for replacing existing government employees with conservative alternatives to eliminate what some Republicans call the "deep state" governmental bureaucracy.