Trump administration to end job protections for up to 50,000 federal workers

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 5, 2026. REUTERS/Al Drago

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - U.S. ‌President Donald Trump will have more power to hire and fire up to 50,000 ‌career federal employees in an overhaul of the government's civil service system announced by ‌his administration on Thursday.

The overhaul, released by the Office of Personnel Management, fulfills Trump's campaign pledge to strip job protections from federal workers deemed by the president's team to be "influencing" government policy.