President Donald Trump just made a bold move by signing an executive order that could shake up the federal workforce. The order, signed Monday, aims to give him more authority over federal employees—a group he’s often referred to as the “deep state.” This latest action revives a previous order from 2020, which created a category called Schedule F for workers involved in policymaking. Schedule F would make it easier to fire these employees, a move that critics argue could politicize the civil service. Former President Joe Biden had reversed the original order and later strengthened protections for federal workers, but Trump’s new directive seeks to undo those changes. The order directs the Office of Personnel Management to roll back any rules that might block the implementation of Schedule F. Legal experts predict this could lead to court battles, as undoing established rules typically requires a lengthy process—not just an executive order. Federal workers are understandably worried. The 2020 order sparked fears of mass firings, as it would have stripped employees of protections like due process and the right to appeal. While initial estimates suggested around 50,000 workers could be affected, some experts believe the impact could be much broader. Critics say this move could harm the federal government’s ability to function effectively. “It’s a blatant attempt to corrupt the system by eliminating due process rights,” said one union leader. Others argue it could send the country back to a time when government jobs were handed out as political favors. Trump’s supporters, however, see the order as a way to ensure accountability. In the order itself, he wrote that federal employees must answer to the president, who is the sole leader of the executive branch. Whether this order leads to widespread changes or gets tied up in legal fights, one thing is clear: it’s reigniting a heated debate over the role of politics in federal employment. For now, federal workers are left wondering what’s next.