Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service (Trump EO Tracker)

Establishes a new government-wide framework for securing National Security Systems (NSS), including systems used by the military, intelligence community, and civilian agencies that handle classified or national security information. Rescinds prior cybersecurity directives, re-establishes the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS), and formally designates the National Security Agency (NSA) as the National Manager for NSS cybersecurity.

Modifies several existing marine national monument proclamations to remove monument-based prohibitions on commercial fishing in designated areas of the Pacific Ocean, including portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.

Directs executive branch agencies to expand and implement Schedule Policy/Career, an excepted-service personnel category for career federal employees in policy-influencing positions. Transfers designated positions into Schedule Policy/Career, making employees in those roles subject to streamlined removal procedures for poor performance or misconduct while retaining merit-based hiring requirements. Amends civil service regulations, requires agencies to identify additional policy-influencing positions for potential transfer, and establishes new performance award mechanisms to incentivize high-performing employees.

The Executive Order (“EO”) directs the alignment of the U.S. core childhood vaccine schedule with the best practices of peer, developed countries, while preserving access to vaccines and protecting religious freedoms and enforcing legal protections for parents. Based on a scientific assessment completed by HHS pursuant to a Presidential Memorandum dated December 5, 2025, the order notes that the U.S. currently recommends more childhood vaccines than any peer nation and identified a set of consensus vaccines consistently recommended across all peer countries. The order directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to review the scientific assessment and take appropriate steps to update the childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule, while providing maximum flexibility to parents and doctors regarding the timing and sequencing of routine immunizations. Additionally, all immunizations on the ACIP-recommended schedule and adopted by the CDC must continue to be covered without cost sharing by private insurance, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Vaccines for Children Program. The order also reaffirms the Administration’s commitment to fulfilling all legal obligations with respect to parental authority, religious freedom, disability accommodations, and equal protection under the law.