Latest news with #MeritHiringPlan
E&E News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- E&E News
Interior implements Trump's essay requirement in federal hiring
The Interior Department will ask job applicants to answer several essay questions inked by the Trump administration that have been criticized as a litmus test for loyalty to the president's agenda, according to a memo sent out last week from the department's human capital office. The essay questions, which include asking applicants to state which of the president's executive orders are most significant to them, originated in a plan to revamp federal hiring by the president's Office of Personnel Management. Dubbed the 'Merit Hiring Plan,' the changes included several long-standing and bipartisan proposals to improve federal job reviews, such as implementing skills-based hiring and shortening the notoriously lengthy federal resume, alongside new initiatives from the Trump administration. Advertisement In addition to the four essay questions quizzing applicants on Trump's priorities and their loyalty to the Constitution, the OPM changes mandate that agencies stop collecting information about the race, sex and religion of the workforce.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Unpacking Trump admin's new hiring plan for federal workers — including question about implementing presidential policy
Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump's 'Merit Hiring Plan' asks applicants for federal government jobs to write an essay naming their favorite Trump policy or executive order and how they would implement it. Rating: Context: The specific question in the new 'Merit Hiring Plan' for federal employees states: 'How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.' In late May 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration announced a "Merit Hiring Plan" for the federal bureaucracy. Soon after its announcement, critics claimed the hiring process was actually not merit-based but a "loyalty test" to the Trump administration in which applicants would be asked to write essays about their favorite Trump policy. According to a Facebook post from the account Alt National Park Service: Loyalty tests have officially arrived in the federal hiring process. The Trump administration just unveiled a so-called "Merit Hiring Plan", which includes a quiz asking job applicants to name their favorite Trump policy or executive order. Yes, seriously. You're expected to write an essay explaining your "loyalty" to Trump. But here's the truth: the oath federal workers take is to the Constitution, not to a president, not to a political party, and definitely not to a list of executive orders. If you're applying, remember: it's your choice how to respond 😉. Once hired the law requires you to swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. It does not require personal loyalty to Trump. We looked closely at the U.S. Office for Personnel Management's (OPM) memorandum titled "Merit Hiring Plan" and found specific language asking applicants to write an essay detailing administration policies that were "significant" to them and executive orders they would implement. While the question does not overtly ask people to declare their loyalty, it does ask them to discuss Trump's policies that they would support and implement. As such, we rate this claim as true. We reached out to the White House and the OPM to learn more about their reasoning behind this question in the application process. We will update this story if we get more information. On May 29, 2025, the OPM released the "Merit Hiring Plan" directing federal agencies to add four "short, free-response" essay questions in their hiring practices. One question stated, as seen on the Chief Human Capital Officers Council (CHCOCs) — a federal agency responsible for coordinating human resources departments — web page: How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. The above question asks applicants for the federal workforce to select from Trump's specific policies and executive orders that they would choose to implement, thus asking them to wade into politically contentious territory. Trump's executive orders have been polarizing, many resulting in court orders to block them from being implemented and 258 lawsuits challenging the administration's actions. The introductory paragraph to the questions note that — the hiring portal for the federal government — will amend its standard language for job announcements to emphasize "efficiency" in the hiring process. The four questions all apply to job vacancies "graded at GS-05 or above," referring to specialized positions that require at least a college degree. The application's other prompts are: How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. The same Merit Hiring Plan also calls for hiring "patriotic Americans" through their list of priorities (emphasis ours): Reforming the Federal recruitment process to ensure that only the most talented, capable and patriotic Americans are hired to the Federal service; Implementing skills-based hiring, eliminating unnecessary degree requirements, and requiring the use of rigorous, job-related assessments to ensure candidates are selected based on their merit and competence, not their skin color or academic pedigree; Streamlining and improving the job application process; and Reducing time-to-hire to under 80 days by emphasizing the use of talent pools and shared certificates and streamlining the background check process. The Merit Hiring Plan is the implementation strategy of Trump's January 2025 executive order, titled, "Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service." Critics of the Trump administration, including U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., called the above question a "loyalty test" to Trump. Lynch wrote in a letter to the OPM: "Every federal worker is legally required to take an oath of office that they will 'support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.' The oath does not require federal workers to swear to protect and defend executive orders or policy initiatives." The above questions are in line with those proposed by Project 2025, a conservative coalition's hiring plan for a Trump administration bureaucracy that we reported on in 2024. We found similar "loyalty tests" were part of Project 2025's proposal. We also learned during Obama's first term (January 2009 to January 2013) that his administration required extensive vetting of applicants for high-ranking, politically appointed positions. That process also included a questionnaire asking participants to elaborate on past public statements, social media posts and potential conflicts of interests, as well as share things about their personal lives, like whether they own guns. In our reporting, we asked a former U.S. President Joe Biden aide about the Obama-era questionnaire. The aide said it was not comparable to Project 2025's system. The latter was a "loyalty test" to Trump, the aide said, while Obama's survey was more of a background check. Bravender, Robin. "Trump Administration to Prioritize 'Patriotic Americans' for Federal Jobs." Politico, 30 May 2025, Accessed 4 June 2025. Ibrahim, Nur and Aleksandra Wrona. "What to Know About Project 2025, the Pro-Trump Plan to Overhaul US Government." Snopes, 7 Nov. 2024, Accessed 4 June 2025. Lynch, Stephen. Letter to Charles Ezell, OPM. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, 2 June 2025, Accessed 4 June 2025. Magtulis, Prinz. "How Trump Unleashed Executive Power." Reuters, 7 May 2025. Accessed 4 June 2025. "Merit Hiring Plan." CHCOC. Accessed 4 June 2025. "Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service." The White House, 21 Jan. 2025, Accessed 4 June 2025.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Trump Accused Of Running 'Illegal' MAGA Loyalty Test For Top Fed Job
Donald Trump's second term kicked off with sweeping federal layoffs and a tough hiring freeze—but now a fresh hiring window has opened, and it's already triggering a firestorm. A new memo from the Office of Personnel Management outlines the 'Merit Hiring Plan,' which tosses out traditional degrees and DEI-focused hiring, prioritizing skill and ideological alignment instead. What's setting the internet ablaze? Applicants must now write four essays, including one controversial question asking them to pick a Trump policy and explain how they'd personally help implement it. Critics are slamming the move as 'illegal,' 'dangerous,' and a blatant loyalty test. With hiring still limited to one employee per every four laid off, many are calling this a push to reshape the federal workforce into a MAGA-first machine. Read More
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Administration Makes New Federal Employees Write Essays to Prove MAGA Loyalty
New hiring guidelines from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management reveal that government applicants will have to answer four 200-word essay questions to be considered for a job in the Trump administration. Questions include an inquiry into which of Trump's executive orders have been "significant" to their lives. Trump implemented a government-hiring freeze upon his inauguration on Jan. 20, which is expected to be lifted on July 15. While the first four months of President Donald Trump's second term have been characterized by mass layoffs and hiring freezes, the government is about to start accepting new employees — with one major new requirement. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management laid out the guidelines for hopeful applicants in a May 29 memo. In keeping with Trump's rejection of diversity, equity and inclusion hiring practices, the memo stresses that the 'Merit Hiring Plan' focuses on 'skills-based hiring, eliminating unnecessary degree requirements, and requiring the use of rigorous, job-related assessments to ensure candidates are selected based on their merit and competence, not their skin color or academic pedigree.' One of those "assessments," the memo explains, is four 200-word essay questions each applicant must answer in order to prove that they would be a good fit for the Trump administration. The questions, particularly the third, ask the applicant to prove their mettle not only through personal qualification, but also with an ideological alignment with the administration's existing policies. Read the full essay questions below:How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this his inauguration on Jan. 20, Trump implemented a federal hiring freeze, which he later extended to July 15. In February, he issued another executive order implementing a 'workforce optimization initiative" with the assistance of the Department of Government Efficiency, which was headed by Elon Musk until recently. The order explained that, when the hiring freeze was lifted, government agencies were to hire only one employee for each four that had left or been laid off. Following that order and several others reflecting the administration's plan to 'prioritize recruitment of individuals committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution,' 21 DOGE employees submitted their resignations. The employees claimed that, beginning one day after Trump's inauguration, they had been taken in for 15-minute interviews with individuals wearing White House visitor badges, who refused to identify themselves and 'asked questions about political loyalty, attempted to pit colleagues against each other, and demonstrated limited technical ability.' 'We will not use our skills as technologists to compromise core government systems, jeopardize Americans' sensitive data, or dismantle critical public services,' the letter continued. 'We will not lend our expertise to carry out or legitimize DOGE's actions.' For his part, Musk left the White House on Friday, May 30, as his 130-day limit as a special government employee had come to an end. On his way out, the tech billionaire also issued some criticisms of Trump's administration, claiming that the president's touted 'Big Beautiful Bill' was set to undermine all the work he'd done at DOGE. 'I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,' he told CBS Sunday Morning in an interview that aired on June 1. The "Big, Beautiful Bill" is funding its tax cuts and military spending in part by cutting some federal health and energy programs. However, it is also poised to add an estimated $3.8 trillion to the national deficit, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. 'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both," Musk said. Read the original article on People
Newsweek
03-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
New Federal Employees Must Now Write Essays Praising Trump's Policies
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Those seeking a job in the federal government will now have to write an essay in support of President Donald Trump's executive orders, according to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management. Vince Haley, the White House's head of domestic policy, wrote in the May 29 memorandum that all civil service applicants must answer a series of essays as part of the job recruitment process, including one about how they would "help advance" Trump's policy priorities. Newsweek has contacted the Office of Personnel Management for comment via email outside normal working hours. Why It Matters Since assuming office in January, Trump has overseen a shake-up of the federal workforce, implementing hiring freezes and mass layoffs to downsize the government in the name of efficiency. The president's actions have sparked criticism and legal challenges. With the federal hiring freeze scheduled to end on July 15, the government has begun to consider how it will recruit workers moving forward. President Donald Trump walking on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 30. President Donald Trump walking on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 30. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin What To Know According to the memo, the feral government's strategy to hire people to the civil service, dubbed the "Merit Hiring Plan," will require certain applicants to write four 200-word essays about their work ethic, skills and experience, commitment to the Constitution, and plans to "advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities." The essay questions are as follows: 1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. 2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. 3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. 4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. The plan, as outlined in the memo, would also decrease hiring time for new candidates to under 80 days; implement a skills-based hiring approach that would reduce the need for "unnecessary degree requirements"; and end the use of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in hiring and recruitment, which the memo described as "racial discrimination." What People Are Saying Scott Lucas, a professor in international politics at University College Dublin, told Newsweek that Project 2025 "set this out" with government cuts and other Trump initiatives, so the news was not surprising. "This is an authoritarian regime," he said. Adam Bonica, a political scientist at Stanford University, wrote in a Substack post: "A merit-based civil service that took generations to build is being dismantled via memo." Max Stier, the president of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, told Axios: "They're emptying the shelves of the existing nonpartisan expert civil servants, and they're restocking with the loyalists." Paul Light, a professor emeritus of public service at New York University, told Politico: "I think it's foolish. It's hard enough to get talent these days." The Office of Personnel Management said in the memorandum: "The American people deserve a federal workforce dedicated to American values and efficient service." What Happens Next More cuts to the federal government are planned. The White House has said that when the hiring freeze ends, it will allow agencies to hire no more than one employee for every four employees that have left the federal service.
