The Solidarity Docket
Week of February 12, 2026
The federal workforce enters a consequential week as the RIF moratorium expires, Schedule Policy/Career implementation looms, and additional rule changes reshape procedural protections for federal employees. Here's what workers and advocates need to know.
RIF Moratorium Expires February 14, No Extension in Sight
The Continuing Resolution passed in November to end the government shutdown included language prohibiting agencies from conducting Reductions in Force. That prohibition was extended when the CR was renewed in early February. It now expires this Friday, February 14.
As of this writing, there is no indication Congress will extend the moratorium further.
The expiration does not mean agencies will immediately conduct mass layoffs. But the combination of the expiring moratorium and the anticipated March rollout of Schedule Policy/Career creates conditions under which large-scale terminations could proceed with significantly fewer procedural safeguards.
Federal employees should monitor agency communications closely and consult with union representatives or legal counsel if they receive RIF-related notices. More here.
Schedule P-C Implementation Expected in Early March
OPM's final rule establishing Schedule Policy/Career (the revived version of Schedule F) is expected to take effect in early March. The rule allows agencies to reclassify career positions involved in policy work into at-will status, removing civil service protections including MSPB appeal rights.
What this means for affected employees:
Positions moved into Schedule P-C lose civil service protections under Chapter 75
Employees can be removed without the due process required for career civil servants
Appeals to MSPB will not be available for most adverse actions
OPM has issued supplemental guidance clarifying that Schedule P-C positions will generally no longer be eligible for:
Student loan repayment programs
Recruitment, retention, or relocation incentives
The Partnership for Public Service has published a detailed analysis of what the Schedule Policy/Career rule means for the federal workforce, available here: Partnership for Public Service Analysis
Whistleblower Appeals Redirected from MSPB to Agency Counsel
Under new policy, federal whistleblowers who previously could appeal retaliation claims to the Merit Systems Protection Board will now be required to raise concerns with their own agency's general counsel office.
This eliminates access to an independent, third-party adjudicator for whistleblower retaliation claims and instead routes complaints back into the chain of command within the agency where the alleged retaliation occurred. The change raises serious concerns about impartiality and the practical viability of whistleblower protections.
Proposed Rule Changes Would Consolidate Appeals Authority at OPM
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has proposed three additional rule changes that would transfer substantial adjudicatory authority from the Merit Systems Protection Board to OPM itself.
If finalized, the proposed changes would place OPM in charge of deciding appeals involving:
RIF decisions
Probationary employee terminations
Suitability determinations
These proposals continue a broader pattern of centralizing personnel authority within OPM and reducing access to independent review by MSPB.
New Tool Tracks Civil Service Policy Changes
Protect Democracy has launched a searchable tool designed to help federal workers, unions, and advocates track and understand the cascade of policy changes affecting the civil service.
The tool provides a centralized resource for monitoring hastily implemented directives, executive orders, and regulatory changes. It can be accessed here: Protect Democracy Civil Service Tracker
Given the pace and volume of changes to federal workforce policies, this resource will prove valuable for workers trying to understand how new rules apply to their specific situations.
Closing
The convergence of the expiring RIF moratorium, the imminent implementation of Schedule P-C, and the proposed consolidation of appeals authority at OPM creates a fundamentally altered landscape for federal workers.
Protections that have existed for decades are being dismantled or redirected, and the coming weeks will determine how these changes affect employees on the ground.
We will continue to monitor litigation, regulatory developments, and agency implementation as these policies take effect.
In solidarity,
Suzanne Summerlin
General Counsel
Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network
