October 20, 2026 · Personnel, Competence & Administrative Failure
· Administrative process
Well supported
Trump Administration Used New 'Schedule G' Category to Quietly Hire at Least 25 Political Appointees, Mostly at VA
Trump created 'Schedule G' by executive order in July 2025, a category for non-Senate-confirmed political appointees in 'policy-making or policy-advocating' roles. OPM did not propose formal regulations for it until September 2026, over a year after the first appointment in August 2025. Updated OPM data reported October 20 by Federal News Network, citing a Partnership for Public Service analysis, found at least 25 Schedule G appointees, 22 at the VA, plus two at Education and one at Labor per that outlet. Government Executive confirmed the 25-person total and VA figure on October 14.
The Partnership says Schedule G lacks the reporting, detail limits, and OPM sign-off governing Schedule C, and went undisclosed for over a year; several jobs resemble ordinary Schedule C roles. The gap surfaced as the career Senior Executive Service shrank to its smallest size in 25 years.
OPM disputes Schedule G lacks guardrails, saying the order and guidance already govern it. Comment on the proposed rule remains open through November 17, 2026.
The Partnership says Schedule G lacks the reporting, detail limits, and OPM sign-off governing Schedule C, and went undisclosed for over a year; several jobs resemble ordinary Schedule C roles. The gap surfaced as the career Senior Executive Service shrank to its smallest size in 25 years.
OPM disputes Schedule G lacks guardrails, saying the order and guidance already govern it. Comment on the proposed rule remains open through November 17, 2026.
Sources
- Schedule G political appointees flew under the radar for more than a year — Federal News Network, 2026-10-20
- Trump hired political appointees under new job classification — Government Executive, 2026-10-14 Supporting