Latest news with #ExecutiveBranch
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration bans agencies from considering race or gender in hiring process
The Trump administration on Thursday issued new guidelines barring federal agencies from considering race or gender in the hiring process. The guidelines, part of a Merit Hiring Plan sent to agency leaders, also call for preventing the hiring of workers unwilling to 'faithfully serve the Executive Branch.' 'The overly complex Federal hiring system overemphasized discriminatory 'equity' quotas and too often resulted in the hiring of unfit, unskilled bureaucrats,' the Office of Personnel Management wrote in a memo to agency leaders. The memo stems from an executive order President Donald Trump signed on his first day in office that seeks to 'restore merit to government service.' The administration has already moved to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs within federal agencies and sought to extend that effort to institutions and companies that interact with the federal government. The hiring plan comes as the federal government has been implementing mass layoffs known as reductions in force, or RIFs, though that process has been put on hold at multiple agencies by federal courts. The administration has also restricted how many new hires agencies can add to their ranks — with only one new position for every four people who depart. OPM is seeking to reduce the hiring process to fewer than 80 days. The memo also calls for eliminating unnecessary degree requirements in favor of skills-based hiring, which both Republicans and Democrats have supported. However, it also requires that agencies use 'rigorous, job-related assessments to ensure candidates are selected based on their merit and competence, not their skin color or academic pedigree,' which has been a focus of Republicans. The 30-page memo orders agencies to stop using statistics on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin or the concept of 'underrepresentation' in hiring, recruiting, retention or promotion decisions. It also prevents agencies from releasing data on the compositions of their workforces based on race, sex, color, religion or national origin. And it ends all programs and initiatives related to hiring, training and promotions based on these criteria, while warning that any hiring manager or employee will face disciplinary action if they engage in 'unlawful race preferential discrimination.' 'An asserted interest in 'diversity' or 'equity' cannot justify discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin,' the memo reads. OPM also takes a shot at the nation's top universities, several of which the Trump administration is targeting, in its mandate to broaden early career recruitment efforts. 'Federal hiring too often focuses on elite universities and credentials, instead of merit, practical skill, and commitment to American ideals,' the memo reads. Instead, the office directs agencies to target recruitment at state universities, religious colleges, community colleges and trade schools, homeschooling groups, faith-based groups and the military, among others. Axios first reported on the memo.
CNN
a day ago
- Business
- CNN
Trump administration bans agencies from considering race or gender in hiring process
The Trump administration on Thursday issued new guidelines barring federal agencies from considering race or gender in the hiring process. The guidelines, part of a Merit Hiring Plan sent to agency leaders, also call for preventing the hiring of workers unwilling to 'faithfully serve the Executive Branch.' 'The overly complex Federal hiring system overemphasized discriminatory 'equity' quotas and too often resulted in the hiring of unfit, unskilled bureaucrats,' the Office of Personnel Management wrote in a memo to agency leaders. The memo stems from an executive order President Donald Trump signed on his first day in office that seeks to 'restore merit to government service.' The administration has already moved to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs within federal agencies and sought to extend that effort to institutions and companies that interact with the federal government. The hiring plan comes as the federal government has been implementing mass layoffs known as reductions in force, or RIFs, though that process has been put on hold at multiple agencies by federal courts. The administration has also restricted how many new hires agencies can add to their ranks — with only one new position for every four people who depart. OPM is seeking to reduce the hiring process to fewer than 80 days. The memo also calls for eliminating unnecessary degree requirements in favor of skills-based hiring, which both Republicans and Democrats have supported. However, it also requires that agencies use 'rigorous, job-related assessments to ensure candidates are selected based on their merit and competence, not their skin color or academic pedigree,' which has been a focus of Republicans. The 30-page memo orders agencies to stop using statistics on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin or the concept of 'underrepresentation' in hiring, recruiting, retention or promotion decisions. It also prevents agencies from releasing data on the compositions of their workforces based on race, sex, color, religion or national origin. And it ends all programs and initiatives related to hiring, training and promotions based on these criteria, while warning that any hiring manager or employee will face disciplinary action if they engage in 'unlawful race preferential discrimination.' 'An asserted interest in 'diversity' or 'equity' cannot justify discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin,' the memo reads. OPM also takes a shot at the nation's top universities, several of which the Trump administration is targeting, in its mandate to broaden early career recruitment efforts. 'Federal hiring too often focuses on elite universities and credentials, instead of merit, practical skill, and commitment to American ideals,' the memo reads. Instead, the office directs agencies to target recruitment at state universities, religious colleges, community colleges and trade schools, homeschooling groups, faith-based groups and the military, among others. Axios first reported on the memo.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration bans race, gender data in federal workforce hiring
The Trump administration directed its agencies to not hire individuals based on their race, sex or religion while it works to overhaul the federal government through major cuts and restructuring. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlined the 'Merit Hiring Plan' in a memo sent to heads and acting heads of departments and agencies on Thursday, which directed them to not use statistics on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin or 'the broader concept of 'underrepresentation'' to hire or recruit. It calls on agencies to stop publishing and distributing information on the composition of the workforce based on race, sex, color, religion or national origin and to end all programs related to hiring that 'discriminate' against groups. OPM says disciplinary action must be taken if a hiring manager engages in any 'unlawful race preferential discrimination.' The plan calls for the end to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in hiring, calling them 'illegal, demeaning and immoral.' 'OPM is committed to creating a federal workforce that reflects the highest standards of merit and service,' acting director Charles Ezell said in a statement. 'This plan ensures we hire based on talent, dedication, and constitutional principles, delivering a government that works effectively for all Americans.' Another goal of the plan is an effort to 'prevent the hiring of individuals who are unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve the Executive Branch.' It prioritizes the hiring of those who are committed to improving government efficiency and decreasing the time-to-hire to under 80 days and 'integrate modern technology to support the recruitment and selection process.' OPM aims to reform the federal workforce recruitment process 'to ensure that only the most talented, capable and patriotic Americans are hired' and to implement skilled-based hiring over 'unnecessary degree requirements.' OPM also announced that on June 30, agency's human capital officers will send reports to OPM and the Office of Management and Budget on recruitment and eliminating such practices the administration deems discriminatory. The Trump administration has been focused on eliminating DEI in the federal government and has threatened to remove federal funding and grants for private institutions if they don't do away with diversity efforts. The administration pushed Harvard University to end DEI programs and to alter its hiring and admissions processes and has cut billions of dollars in federal funding when the university pushed back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration bans race, gender data in federal workforce hiring
The Trump administration directed its agencies to not hire individuals based on their race, sex or religion while it works to overhaul the federal government through major cuts and restructuring. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlined the 'Merit Hiring Plan' in a memo sent to heads and acting heads of departments and agencies on Thursday, which directed them to not use statistics on race, sex, ethnicity, national origin or 'the broader concept of 'underrepresentation'' to hire or recruit. It calls on agencies to stop publishing and distributing information on the composition of the workforce based on race, sex, color, religion or national origin and to end all programs related to hiring that 'discriminate' against groups. OPM says disciplinary action must be taken if a hiring manager engages in any 'unlawful race preferential discrimination.' The plan calls for the end to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in hiring, calling them 'illegal, demeaning and immoral.' 'OPM is committed to creating a federal workforce that reflects the highest standards of merit and service,' acting director Charles Ezell said in a statement. 'This plan ensures we hire based on talent, dedication, and constitutional principles, delivering a government that works effectively for all Americans.' Another goal of the plan is an effort to 'prevent the hiring of individuals who are unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve the Executive Branch.' It prioritizes the hiring of those who are committed to improving government efficiency and decreasing the time-to-hire to under 80 days and 'integrate modern technology to support the recruitment and selection process.' OPM aims to reform the federal workforce recruitment process 'to ensure that only the most talented, capable and patriotic Americans are hired' and to implement skilled-based hiring over 'unnecessary degree requirements.' OPM also announced that on June 30, agency's human capital officers will send reports to OPM and the Office of Management and Budget on recruitment and eliminating such practices the administration deems discriminatory. The Trump administration has been focused on eliminating DEI in the federal government and has threatened to remove federal funding and grants for private institutions if they don't do away with diversity efforts. The administration pushed Harvard University to end DEI programs and to alter its hiring and admissions processes and has cut billions of dollars in federal funding when the university pushed back.
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
D.C.'s private clubs surge with demand — and big names
Washington's private club landscape — both the old guard and the new guard — is booming, per a new New York Times article. Why it matters: Four prominent D.C. clubs — newcomers the Executive Branch and Ned's Club and the old-school Metropolitan Club and Cosmos Club — all are expanding, have waitlists, or a combo of the two, the newspaper reports. This comes during an increasingly partisan moment in Washington, when many people are looking for familiar retreats. State of play: Executive Branch, a Trump-centric private club opening in Georgetown next month, will run you as much as $500,000 to be a member. It'll be in the underground space once home to Clubhouse and Church Hall, with design nods to the Aman New York. And don't expect to find typical Beltway figures there, White House crypto czar David Sacks tells the Times — think "a fake news reporter" or "a lobbyist," aka people "we don't know and we don't trust." "You have to know the owners," one club spokesperson told the Times while on a private plane returning from overseas. "This is not just for any Saudi businessman." Donald Trump Jr. is a lead investor, and founding members include Sacks and crypto twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. President Trump, meanwhile, is expected to make appearances now that the former Trump Hotel is no longer available as a hangout. Meanwhile, at Ned's Club, which opened downtown in January, members include Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, MSNBC's Symone Sanders Townsend, CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Phil Rucker, and the Wall Street Journal's Josh Dawsey. Also spotted on the Ned circuit: Mark Cuban and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Fees at the club start at $5,000 to join, with annual dues of $5,000. It's $1,000 for federal workers.
