New Office of Personnel Management guidance tied to the Trump administration’s revived “Schedule F” framework could shift some career federal employees into a new job category with fewer civil service protections — and may also change eligibility for certain pay incentives and student loan repayment assistance, according to Federal News Network.
- What’s changing: Some positions currently filled through career appointments could be reclassified into a Schedule F/excepted service-style category, reducing traditional Title 5 civil service protections, Federal News Network reported.
- Potential loss of protections: Employees moved into the new category could face weaker due-process rights for adverse actions compared with competitive service employees, depending on how agencies implement the guidance, according to Federal News Network.
- Benefits and incentives at risk: Reclassification could affect eligibility for recruitment/relocation/retention incentives and student loan repayment programs that are tied to specific appointment types or service requirements, Federal News Network reported.
- Agency-by-agency impact: The effect will depend on which positions agencies designate and how they apply OPM’s guidance to specific roles, Federal News Network said.
- Who could be affected: The guidance is aimed at positions involved in policy-making, policy advocacy, or confidential work, which could include roles currently staffed by career civil servants, Federal News Network reported.
- What to watch for: Employees may see changes reflected in position designations, appointment authorities, and eligibility determinations for incentives and loan repayment, according to Federal News Network.
Brief context: “Schedule F” was originally created by an executive order late in President Donald Trump’s first term and later rescinded by the Biden administration. Federal News Network reports the Trump administration has now revived Schedule F-related policy, and OPM guidance is prompting agencies to identify positions that could be shifted out of the competitive service framework. The practical impact for employees is not limited to job protections: many incentive and assistance programs are governed by statutory and regulatory eligibility rules that can turn on whether an employee is in the competitive service, excepted service, or another appointment category.
For affected employees, the near-term questions are operational: whether your position is flagged for reclassification, whether you are given notice or an opportunity to respond, and whether your eligibility for student loan repayment or recruitment/retention incentives changes as a result. Employees considering a move, promotion, or retention agreement may want to confirm eligibility terms in writing before signing, and track agency guidance as it is issued. For general references on federal pay and incentives, see FedInfo’s guides (https://fedinfo.org).
Source: Federal News Network, “Federal employees put into revived Schedule F category may lose loan aid, pay incentives” (Feb. 2026), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2026/02/federal-employees-put-into-revived-schedule-f-category-may-lose-loan-aid-pay-incentives/