Federal employees on probation lose most ways to fight a firing

Federal employees on probation will have fewer ways to appeal if they are fired. They can only claim political or marital discrimination, or that the agency broke rules about pre-hiring issues, and the agency itself will hear these limited appeals.

For years, federal agencies have found it difficult to remove employees, even those on probation. This rule change makes it much harder for new hires to challenge their dismissal. Agencies can now remove employees they deem a poor fit without facing lengthy appeals on broad discrimination claims.