The White House has proposed a plan to make it harder for federal employees to challenge their firings. Instead of appealing to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), workers would have to go directly to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which works under the president. The MSPB has served as an independent mediator since 1978. Its caseload surged by 266% after Trump took office between October 2024 and September 2025. This move is part of Trump's larger push to shrink the federal workforce and limit employees' rights. About 317,000 federal workers were forced out last year. Another proposal would make high-level career civil servants "at will" employees, allowing easier firings if they "intentionally subvert Presidential directives." This would affect around 50,000 workers. An OPM spokesperson told Al Jazeera, "Congress gave OPM the authority to set how reduction-in-force appeals are handled, and this rule puts that responsibility to work. It replaces a slow, costly process with a single, streamlined review led by OPM experts. That means agencies can restructure without years of litigation, and employees get faster, fairer resolution if mistakes occur." The administration is also seeking to remove political appointees without just cause. It is currently appealing a court ruling related to the firing of US Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. The Supreme Court’s pending decision could make it easier for presidents to oust political officials who do not support their agenda.