"The oath does not require federal workers to swear to protect and defend executive orders or policy initiatives," said the acting top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Image: Joey Sussman/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffNew questions to be added to federal job vacancy announcements for positions at GS-5 and above under the Trump administration’s hiring process changes amount to a “blatant loyalty test to President Trump,” the acting top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has said.
“Such a loyalty test is antithetical to the concept of an expert, nonpartisan civil service and will only serve to degrade and politicize the services Americans need from their government,” said Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Md., in a letter to OPM.
The memo says that USAJOBS “will add standard language in the job opportunity announcement template emphasizing that candidates should be 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.”
Those questions will be (in the memo’s words):
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.
Responses will be limited to 200 words per question and applicants “will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]),” it says.
Said Lynch in his letter, “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. It does not require that workers have loyalty to a President or to a political party.”
“In fact, the very ethos of our civil service is that it serves the Constitution and the American people. That mandate transcends any political position or capriciously signed executive order,” he said in asking that the questions not be added and provide information on how the decision to include them was made.
The AFGE union similarly said, “Federal employees should be hired based on their ability to do the job and their commitment to following the Constitution and other laws – not on their allegiance to any one president.”
OPM: Impact of RIFs Could Be Much Larger than Commonly Used Numbers. Or Maybe Less.
Uneasy Wait on RIFs Hangs over Federal Workforce; Courts May Yet Play a Role
Agencies Should Weigh Impact on Employees of Return to Worksite, Says Report
Audit: PSHB Program at Risk of Underfunding, Understaffing; No Plan B
Supreme Court Clears Way for Mass RIFs as OPM Cites Wave of ‘Deferred Resignations’
Rubio’s State Department Restructuring Cuts 1,353 Federal Jobs
OPM Wants Supervisors to Produce a ‘Positive and Compliant’ Federal Workplace
See also,
Work Longer or Take the FERS Supplement Now: Which is Better?
Doubling Your TSP (C Fund vs G Fund)
How to Estimate a FERS Special Retirement Supplement (calculator!)
