Executive Order 14171

Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce

Signed January 20, 2025, printed at 90 FR 8625. 6 sections of substance, 1,078 words.

In plain English

This order makes it easier to fire senior staff who set policy. It says the President must run the branch.

Sec. 1. Purpose

Article II of the United States Constitution vests the President with the sole and exclusive authority over the executive branch, including the authority to manage the Federal workforce to ensure effective execution of Federal law. A critical aspect of this executive function is the responsibility to maintain professionalism and accountability within the civil service. This accountability is sorely lacking today. Only 41 percent of civil service supervisors are confident that they can remove an employee who engaged in insubordination or serious misconduct. Even fewer supervisors--26 percent--are confident that they can remove an employee for poor performance. Accountability is essential for all Federal employees, but it is especially important for those who are in policy-influencing positions. These personnel are entrusted to shape and implement actions that have a significant impact on

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It says the President runs the executive branch. It says accountability there is weak. It says only 41 percent of supervisors feel able to remove for misconduct. Only 26 percent feel able to remove for poor work. It says that matters most in policy roles.

Sec. 2. Reinstatement of Prior Administration Policy

Executive Order 13957 of October 21, 2020 (Creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service), is hereby immediately reinstated with full force and effect, subject to the amendments described in section 3 of this order; provided that the date of this order shall be treated as the date of Executive Order 13957.

In plain English

This brings back an old order. A 2020 order created a job schedule. That schedule covers policy roles. It is restored at once with full force. Later changes in this order apply to it. Its date is treated as today's date. That resets the clock on it.

Sec. 3. Amendments to Prior Administration Policy

Executive Order 13957 is amended as follows: (a) replace the letter ``F'' throughout, when used to designate an excepted service schedule, with the words ``Policy/Career''; (b) in section 1: (i) remove the text between the words ``make necessary'' in the seventh paragraph and ``excepting such positions'' in the eighth paragraph; and (ii) insert the text ``competitive service and the'' immediately before the words ``adverse action procedures'' in the eighth paragraph; (c) in section 4(a)(i), replace the word ``Positions'' with the words ``Career positions'' in the final paragraph; (d) in section 4(b)(i), add the text ``providing for the application of Civil Service Rule 6.3(a) to Schedule Policy/Career positions and'' after the words ``as appropriate''; (e) in section 5: [[Page 8626]] (i) insert the words ``recommend that the President'' immediately after the words ``petition the

In plain English

This edits a 2020 order. Schedule F gets a new name. It is now called Policy or Career. Some clauses are struck out. Others are reworded. One change ties the class to a civil service rule. Another changes how an agency asks to move a job.

Sec. 4. Conforming Regulatory Changes

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (Director) shall promptly amend the Civil Service Regulations to rescind all changes made by the final rule of April 9, 2024, ``Upholding Civil Service Protections and Merit System Principles,'' 89 Fed. Reg. 24982, that impede the purposes of or would otherwise affect the implementation of Executive Order 13957. Until such rescissions are effectuated (including the resolution of any judicial review), 5 CFR part 302, subpart F, 5 CFR 210.102(b)(3), and 5 CFR 210.102(b)(4) shall be held inoperative and without effect.

In plain English

This tells the staffing office to undo a 2024 rule. That rule got in the way of the older order. It must amend the civil service rules to do so. Until that is done, three parts of the code stop working. They have no effect while any court case runs.

Sec. 5. Additional Positions for Consideration

Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Director shall, after consultation with the Executive Office of the President, issue guidance about additional categories of positions that executive departments and agencies should consider recommending for Schedule Policy/ Career.

In plain English

This asks for guidance. The personnel office has 30 days. It must consult the White House offices first. It must then tell agencies what else to look at. The subject is more kinds of jobs. Agencies would weigh moving them to the policy schedule.

Sec. 6. Revocation

Executive Order 14003 of January 22, 2021 (Protecting the Federal Workforce), is hereby revoked, and any rules, regulations, guidance, or other agency policies effectuated under Executive Order 14003 shall not be enforced. The heads of each executive department and agency shall review and identify existing agency actions relating to or arising under section 3(e)(v) and 3(f) of Executive Order 14003 (relating to suspending, revising, or rescinding revisions to discipline and unacceptable performance policies) and, as soon as practicable, suspend, revise, or rescind such actions identified in the review.

In plain English

This cancels a 2021 order on the federal workforce. Rules made under it may not be enforced. Agency heads must review what was done. Two parts of the old order are named. They dealt with discipline and poor performance. Steps taken under them must be undone or revised.

Sec. 7. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. [[Page 8627]] (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, January 20, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-02095 Filed 1-30-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body>

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.