President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday that moves 8,000 federal workers in policy roles into a new class that makes it easier for the administration to fire them for misconduct and poor performance.

The order moves the employees from a protected status into an at-will position, including high-ranking officials at the top of the government's civil service, known as GS-15 employees.

The White House characterized the order as "fixing a broken system" that streamlines replacing federal employees who are not aligned with the administration. 

"Personnel rules make removing federal employees for any reason exceedingly difficult," the White House said in a fact sheet. "Consequently, employees with significant policy-making responsibilities can stay in their jobs for years even if they perform poorly, engage in misconduct, or are unwilling to advance presidential policy across administrations."

The order impacts agency positions such as directors, deputy directors, chiefs of staff, senior advisors and policy analysts, employees with significant involvement in drafting regulations and guidance, public affairs and legislative affairs leaders, and employees who help determine who receives federal grants.

The move comes after Trump offered buyout options for federal workers last year to encourage them to leave voluntarily. 

The White House said that under the Trump administration, the federal workforce is now at its lowest level since 1966. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.