Fact Check: "When the Government Isn’t Working—Because Trump Fired Everyone"
What We Know
The claim suggests that the Trump administration's implementation of Schedule F would lead to mass firings of experienced public servants, replacing them with political loyalists. Schedule F was introduced as a new category of federal employees who could be dismissed without the protections typically afforded to civil servants. This policy aimed to allow the executive branch greater flexibility in staffing, particularly in roles deemed "policy-related" (Wagner, 2024) [source-2].
During Trump's presidency, there was significant discussion around Schedule F, particularly towards the end of his term. The policy was intended to strip civil service protections from potentially tens of thousands of federal employees, making them at-will employees (NPR, 2025) [source-3]. However, President Biden rescinded Schedule F shortly after taking office in 2021, preventing any immediate reclassification of federal workers (Wagner, 2024) [source-2].
Despite this, Trump has indicated intentions to revive Schedule F if he returns to office, which has raised concerns among public service advocates about the potential for mass firings and the politicization of federal agencies (AP News, 2025) [source-4]. Critics argue that this could lead to the replacement of experienced professionals with individuals loyal to the administration, undermining the effectiveness of agencies like FEMA and the Environmental Protection Agency (Wyden, 2025) [source-1].
Analysis
The claim that the Trump administration's actions would lead to the replacement of experienced public servants with political loyalists is supported by the historical context of Schedule F. The policy was designed to facilitate the dismissal of federal employees who were not political appointees, which many critics argue could lead to a workforce dominated by individuals who align politically with the administration (NPR, 2025) [source-3].
However, it is important to note that during Trump's presidency, there was no actual implementation of Schedule F that resulted in mass firings. The Social Security Administration confirmed that no frontline workers had been reclassified under Schedule F, indicating that while the policy posed a threat, it did not materialize in the form of widespread firings at that time (Wyden, 2025) [source-1].
The sources used in this analysis include credible news outlets and official statements, which provide a balanced view of the implications of Schedule F. However, the interpretation of these events can vary, with some sources emphasizing the potential dangers of the policy while others focus on its lack of immediate implementation.
Conclusion
The claim that the Trump administration's use of Schedule F would lead to mass firings and the replacement of experienced public servants with political loyalists is Partially True. While the intent behind Schedule F was to facilitate such changes, the actual implementation during Trump's presidency did not result in mass firings. However, the potential for future actions under a revived Schedule F remains a concern, warranting vigilance from public service advocates and lawmakers.
