Feb 18, 2026
A major shift in federal workforce policy just became final — and its implications reach far beyond HR paperwork.
Audrey Roofeh, founder of Integrity Matters, joins FedUpward to unpack the newly finalized Schedule P/C rule from the Office of Personnel Management. The rule creates a new category of federal employees who no longer have traditional civil service tenure protections — expanding the number of “at-will” positions across government. Learn more about the policy here.
But the ripple effects don’t stop there.
Audrey explains how Schedule P/C could dramatically expand who qualifies as a “covered branch official” under the Lobbying Disclosure Act — potentially requiring small businesses, consultants, and government contractors to register as lobbyists simply for communicating with certain federal employees about contracts, grants, permits, or loans.
Together, they discuss:
How Schedule P/C differs from Schedule F
Why civil service protections exist in the first place
What it means to lose Merit Systems Protection Board appeal rights
How businesses may face new lobbying registration burdens
Why this change could create a chilling effect within federal agencies
Whether you’re a federal employee, government contractor, consultant, or small business owner working with the federal government, this conversation breaks down what’s happening — and why it matters now.
Learn more about Integrity Matters here: https://integritymatters.org/
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