Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service, Executive Order 14284, April 24, 2025
Stresses the importance of probationary and trial periods for employees in the competitive and excepted services to assess their performance and fitness. Issues new Civil Service Rule XI to determine that continued employment of probationary workers would benefit the federal services. Emphasizes the efficiency of government service as key to determining the finalization of the employee's employment.
From the Order:
Section 1. Purpose. The American people deserve a Federal workforce that is high-quality, efficient, dedicated to the public interest, and no larger than necessary. Probationary periods (for employees in the competitive service) and trial periods (for employees in the excepted service) have provided a longstanding critical tool to assess the fitness of newly hired Federal employees before finalizing their appointments to Federal service.