OPM’s rule removes covered policy-influencing career employees from ordinary federal removal procedures while retaining certain whistleblower, anti-discrimination and prohibited-personnel-practice protections. Federal courts separately blocked portions of Trump orders targeting law firms and ruled that the administration unlawfully canceled approximately $2.2 billion in Harvard research grants.
³ Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo, No. 25A169, U.S. Supreme Court, order and concurrence of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, September 8, 2025; Reuters, “US citizen says he was jailed for three days after California immigration raid,” July 17, 2025. Kavanaugh’s concurrence stated that immigration officers could consider, in combination, factors including location, occupation, Spanish language or accented English, and apparent race or ethnicity, while emphasizing that apparent ethnicity alone could not establish reasonable suspicion. Reuters separately documented the detention of U.S. citizen and Army veteran George Retes during a Southern California immigration operation.
⁴ Reuters, “ICE is cracking down on people who follow them in their cars,” February 10, 2026. Reuters documented immigration-enforcement observers being detained, agents operating in masks and unmarked vehicles, the collection of identifying information about protesters, and accounts of agents following observers home. Federal officials said the measures were intended to prevent interference with operations and protect officers from threats.
⁵ Reuters, “Trump fires top US general in unprecedented Pentagon shakeup,” February 22, 2025; Reuters, “Trump removes US Coast Guard chief, official cites DEI focus,” January 21, 2025. Trump removed Joint Chiefs Chairman General C.Q. Brown Jr. and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti during a broad change in senior military leadership. The administration separately removed Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan; an administration official cited several reasons, including concerns about her emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion. The Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Defense, except when transferred to the Navy.
⁶ Reuters, “Carney says Canada is not for sale, Trump says ‘never say never,’” May 6, 2025; Reuters, “Trump reiterates at NATO summit that Greenland should be controlled by US, not Denmark,” July 7, 2026; Reuters, “Iceland summons US ambassador after Trump posts map showing island under American flag,” September 8, 2026. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada become the 51st state, continued to advocate U.S. control of Greenland, and in September 2026 posted an image depicting Canada, Greenland, Iceland and other territory beneath the American flag. Iceland summoned the U.S. ambassador following the post.
Bibliography
1. • Heritage Foundation. Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise . Project 2025. Edited by Paul Dans and Steven Groves. Washington, D.C.: The Heritage Foundation, 2023. Chapter 2, “Executive Office of the President of the United States,” by Russell Vought.
2. • U.S. Office of Personnel Management. “Schedule Policy/Career.” 2026.
3. • U.S. Office of Personnel Management. “OPM Finalizes Schedule Policy/Career Rule to Strengthen Accountability.” February 5, 2026.
4. • U.S. Office of Personnel Management. “Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service.” Final Rule. Federal Register 91, no. 25, February 6, 2026.
5. • Reuters. “The new kingmakers: Crypto, AI and betting firms fuel record spending on the 2026 midterms.” August 20, 2026.
6. • Reuters. “US Supreme Court formally reinstates pro-Republican Texas voting map.” April 27, 2026.
7. • Reuters. “Judges block Trump orders targeting two law firms as Skadden cuts deal.” March 28, 2025.
8. • Reuters. “Trump unlawfully canceled Harvard’s research grants, US judge rules.” September 3, 2025.
9. • Supreme Court of the United States. Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo , No. 25A169. Order and concurrence of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. September 8, 2025.
10. • Reuters. “US citizen says he was jailed for three days after California immigration raid.” July 17, 2025.
11. • Reuters. “ICE is cracking down on people who follow them in their cars.” February 10, 2026.
12. • Reuters. “Trump fires top US general in unprecedented Pentagon shakeup.” February 22, 2025.
13. • Reuters. “Trump removes US Coast Guard chief, official cites DEI focus.” January 21, 2025.
14. • Reuters. “Carney says Canada is not for sale, Trump says ‘never say never.’” May 6, 2025.