Second wave of probationary federal employee terminations targeted climate, civil-rights, and inspector-general support staff — accelerating Schedule F implementation through attrition.

OPM expanded Schedule F reclassification guidance to additional agency subcomponents — accelerating politically motivated civil-service purges across the executive branch ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Merit Systems Protection Board vacancies left thousands of federal whistleblower and Schedule F appeal cases in limbo — removing a key check on retaliatory firings.

OPM intensified deferred-resignation buyout pressure on career civil servants — offering exit packages while threatening RIFs for employees who declined, mirroring Project 2025 workforce purge tactics.