Trump admin implements controversial hiring process for new federal employees. Here's what you need to know

Time of India

2 days ago

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The Trump administration is ready to start civil service hiring after a month-long freeze on hiring new federal employees and the Elon Musk-led DOGE cuts to the government workforce. Those who want a want in the federal government will now have to write an essay in support of President Donald Trump's executive orders, reveals a memo from the Office of Personnel Management The Office of Personnel Management last week quietly published a memorandum authored by Vince Haley, the White House's head of domestic policy that was addressed to the head or acting head of every agency across the entire executive branch. The Office of Personnel Management said in the memorandum: "The American people deserve a federal workforce dedicated to American values and efficient service."In a memorandum dated May 29, Haley outlined a new hiring process requiring all civil service applicants to complete a series of essay questions, including one about how they would support President Trump's policy priorities. This requirement applies to all individuals seeking civil service positions at any level — from entry-level roles such as janitors and nurses to professional roles like economists and lawyers.The initiative is part of a 'merit hiring plan' designed to implement an executive order issued by Trump in the month of January. The order emphasizes the recruitment of individuals who are 'committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government,' passionate about the ideals of the American republic, and dedicated to upholding the US Constitution and the rule of law, reports The Independent.The plan also seeks to exclude candidates who are 'unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve the Executive Branch.' Among the essay prompts, applicants are asked to reflect on their 'commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States.' Another prompt requires them to explain how they would help advance the president's executive orders and policy priorities, including identifying one or two specific initiatives they personally find important, and describing how they would contribute to implementing them.Those whose responses are deemed strong enough to merit an interview must then undergo an 'executive interview' with a political appointee from the agency's leadership. This interview is intended to assess the candidate's 'organizational fit and commitment to American ideals.'The new screening process has raised serious concerns among civil service experts and advocates for good governance, who warn that it could politicize the traditionally nonpartisan federal workforce.Trump has overseen a shake-up of the federal government employees, implementing hiring freezes and mass layoffs to downsize the government in the name of efficiency after he made a historic return to the White House in January. 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.According to the memo, the federal government's strategy to hire people to the civil service, dubbed the " Merit Hiring Plan . It 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."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 memo outlines a plan to streamline hiring by reducing the time to bring on new candidates to under 80 days, adopting a skills-based hiring strategy to eliminate unnecessary degree requirements, and discontinuing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in recruitment, which the memo characterizes as a form of racial discrimination.These new policies could allow the administration to recruit an equal number of MAGA devotees who would eventually acquire protection from removal by future administrations.