Key facts
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday.
- The order makes it easier to fire approximately 8,000 federal workers.
- The affected workers are mostly senior employees earning up to $200,000 annually.
- These workers are deemed to be "influencing" government policy.
- The administration stated the goal is to ensure workers carry out lawful orders and policy directives.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday that aims to make it easier to fire approximately 8,000 federal workers, primarily senior employees earning up to nearly $200,000 annually who are deemed to be "influencing" government policy. The order, released by the White House and the Office of Personnel Management, strips job protections from these workers. Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, stated that the administration needs employees willing to carry out its policy priorities and that the order provides a mechanism to remove those whose views interfere with executing lawful orders. Trump believes career federal workers opposed his policies during his first term, hindering his agenda. While the order affects 8,000 workers, a ceiling estimate of up to 50,000 workers could be made subject to the new rules, though the administration has no immediate plans to expand the grouping. Federal worker unions had previously sued to stop the policy before its finalization.