Federal Workforce Protection (E.O. 14003)

Summary

Strengthens job protections for government workers, supports their right to form unions, and cancels several previous executive orders.

What problem does this solve?

Previous rules made it easier to fire federal workers and weakened their unions. This order cancels those rules to restore job security and strengthen the rights of government employees to bargain together.

What does this order do?

Revokes Schedule F classification

Cancels Executive Order 13957, which created a new 'Schedule F' job category for federal employees in policy-making roles. This removes their exemption from normal civil service protections, making them harder to fire.

Cancels orders limiting federal unions

Revokes three executive orders (13836, 13837, and 13839) that restricted collective bargaining, limited the use of taxpayer-funded union time, and made it easier to fire federal workers.

Promotes a $15 minimum wage for federal employees

Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to prepare a report for the President with recommendations on how to raise the minimum wage for all federal employees to $15 per hour.

Strengthens collective bargaining rights

Requires the heads of federal agencies to negotiate with unions on a wider range of topics than previously required, giving unions more power in workplace matters.

Disbands the Interagency Labor Relations Working Group

Eliminates a working group created by a previous executive order and requires the withdrawal of all materials it produced that conflict with the policy of supporting federal unions.

Who does this affect?

Federal government employees
Federal employee unions
Government agency managers

What is the real world impact?

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Restores traditional civil service protections

Reverses recent policies that weakened job security for career government employees. Aims to make the federal government a model employer by protecting its workforce and encouraging union membership.

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Strengthens federal employee unions

Cancels executive orders that limited the power of unions. This action restores their ability to bargain and use official time for union activities, which could increase their influence and membership.

When does this start?

This order took effect on January 22, 2021, and requires immediate actions from federal agencies.

Halt to Schedule F Conversions

Effective immediately on January 22, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management must stop processing any requests to convert jobs to the Schedule F category.

Review of Agency Actions

Agency heads must, as soon as possible, suspend, change, or cancel any existing agency actions that were based on the now-revoked executive orders.

Report on $15 Minimum Wage

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management is required to provide a report with recommendations for a $15/hour minimum wage, though no specific deadline is set.