The National Treasury Employees Union said that although it was pleased the applicant’s veterans’ preference rights were being upheld, that it was disappointed that the appeals court didn’t more explicitly address the legality of the Federal Career Intern Program.
NTEU said it was disappointed that the appeals court "declined to rule on whether the FCIP is a valid exception to merit-based hiring."
"The FCIP hits hard in NTEU-represented workplaces," the union’s president Colleen Kelley said, adding that Customs and Border Protection uses it to fill entry-level officer positions and that the IRS uses it to hire revenue officers and agents.
NTEU, which filed an amicus brief with the court, argued that the FCIP is the fastest way agencies are moving away from competitive examination and selection requirements.
