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OPM tees up more changes for probationary federal employees
Workforce Rights/Governance
OPM tees up more changes for probationary federal employees
The Trump administration is looking to alter both the latitude and method for probationary federal employees to appeal an agency’s decision to fire them.
Drew Friedman@dfriedmanWFED
December 29, 2025 6:22 pm
4 min read
Probationary federal employees are on track to see more restrictions when appealing any future terminations, according to a new proposal from the Trump administration.
Under new proposed regulations from the Office of Personnel Management, fired probationary employees would only be able to appeal their termination if they believe it was due to discrimination based on “partisan political reasons” or “marital status” — or if their agency diverged from standard termination procedures.
“These limited grounds of appeal for probationary terminations reflect the historical principle that probationary periods serve as a critical evaluation phase for new federal employees, and thus that agencies should enjoy great flexibility in separating employees serving probationary or trial periods,” OPM wrote in its proposal, which is scheduled to be published Tuesday on the Federal Register.
Generally, OPM’s regulations seek to alter both the latitude and method for probationary federal employees to appeal an agency’s decision to fire them. Along with limiting options for appeal, the proposal would put OPM in charge of adjudicating employees’ cases, rather than the Merit Systems Protection Board.
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OPM tees up more changes for probationary federal employees
The Trump administration is looking to alter both the latitude and method for probationary federal employees to appeal an agency’s decision to fire them.
Drew Friedman@dfriedmanWFED
December 29, 2025 6:22 pm
4 min read
Probationary federal employees are on track to see more restrictions when appealing any future terminations, according to a new proposal from the Trump administration.
Under new proposed regulations from the Office of Personnel Management, fired probationary employees would only be able to appeal their termination if they believe it was due to discrimination based on “partisan political reasons” or “marital status” — or if their agency diverged from standard termination procedures.
“These limited grounds of appeal for probationary terminations reflect the historical principle that probationary periods serve as a critical evaluation phase for new federal employees, and thus that agencies should enjoy great flexibility in separating employees serving probationary or trial periods,” OPM wrote in its proposal, which is scheduled to be published Tuesday on the Federal Register.
Generally, OPM’s regulations seek to alter both the latitude and method for probationary federal employees to appeal an agency’s decision to fire them. Along with limiting options for appeal, the proposal would put OPM in charge of adjudicating employees’ cases, rather than the Merit Systems Protection Board.
{snip}