New memo from OPM:
The American people deserve a Federal workforce dedicated to American values and efficient service. Yet, Federal hiring criteria long ago abandoned any serious need for technical skills and adherence to the Constitution.
Instead, the overly complex Federal hiring system
overemphasized discriminatory “equity” quotas and too often resulted in the hiring of unfit, unskilled bureaucrats.
The American people, who deserve a government that works for them, have suffered.
In his January 20, 2025 Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service (“Restoring Merit”) President Trump directed that “recruitment and hiring processes” become “more efficient and focused on serving the Nation” and that hiring be based on “merit, practical skill, and dedication to our Constitution.”
These changes will “ensure that the Federal workforce is prepared to help achieve American greatness, and attract the talent necessary to serve our citizens effectively.”
President Trump directed the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy to “develop and send to agency heads a Federal Hiring Plan that brings to the Federal workforce only highly capable Americans dedicated to the furtherance of American ideals, values, and interests.”
President Trump stated that this Merit Hiring Plan must achieve seven goals:
1. 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;
2. Prevent the hiring of individuals based on their race, sex, or religion, and prevent the hiring of individuals who are unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve the Executive Branch;
3. Implement, to the greatest extent possible, technical and alternative assessments as required by the Chance to Compete Act of 2024;
4. Decrease government-wide time-to-hire to under 80 days;
5. Improve communication with candidates to provide greater clarity regarding application status, timelines, and feedback, including regular updates on the progress of applications and explanations of hiring decisions where appropriate;
6. Integrate modern technology to support the recruitment and selection process, including the use of data analytics to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities in hiring, as well as leveraging digital platforms to improve candidate engagement; and
7. Ensure Department and Agency leadership, or their designees, are active participants in implementing the new processes and throughout the full hiring process. . . . . .
Merit Hiring Plan (pdf) 30 pages
Read the rest of the 30 pages: Merit Hiring Plan (pdf)
Leave a Comment