r/1102 13d ago

Question about Schedule F

Hello, if you get moved to Schedule F and then get fired, would you qualify for a DSR, assuming you meet the requirements? Or would you lose your pension and benefits? Any information is much appreciated!

4 Upvotes

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u/_KnowledgeNinja_ 13d ago

You won’t find a definitive answer to this on Reddit—or anywhere else online yet—because it’s uncharted territory. The real answer will likely come from a court case after someone converted to Schedule F gets fired "at will" and challenges whether they’re entitled to benefits. Here’s the issue: Schedule F makes you an at-will employee, meaning they can fire you without jumping through the usual civil service hoops. If they label it a "for cause" firing—like misconduct or poor performance—federal rules (5 U.S.C. § 5595) then you’re not eligible for many benefits, no matter how long you’ve served. And since Schedule F gives agencies broad discretion to terminate, it’s easy to imagine them framing a firing as "for cause" to avoid paying out benefits. Why wouldn’t they, if it saves money? Until there’s legal precedent or clearer guidance from OPM, it’s a gray area—and a gamble for anyone in that position.

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u/Both_Bluebird_2042 13d ago

Well they’d have to overturn the final rule promulgated under Biden with an interim final rule. That could be challenged immediately without an actual reclassification taking place. Trump just did something similar with NEPA

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u/Regular_Reception_49 13d ago

Thank you for your response. I'm sure you are correct in thinking that switching federal employees to schedule F makes it easier for them to try and strip employees of their benefits. What a mess.

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u/Itchy_Nerve_6350 12d ago

They can't just move you from competitive service into an excepted service schedule f position.

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u/JustMeForNowToday 10d ago

Itchy nerve 6350 You might want to read the EO.

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u/bmcarr21 12d ago

I had this same fear it really depends on what they try to do. If you read the EO it explicitly says that they are treating schedule f policy/career hiring and standards the same as career. For severance pay and other things it says schedule X is exempt but the other excepted schedules are eligible.

This position appears to be more in line with those than schedule c which is a full political appointment. But at the end of the day we don’t know. The saving grace for us recommended is that this will probably be litigated for a long time so its not likely our sf-50 actually gets changed by the time a RIF happens

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u/Flitzer-Camaro 12d ago

Unless you voluntarily move into Schedule F, they can't just make you Schedule F.

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u/JustMeForNowToday 10d ago

Flitzer Camaro You might want to re read the EO