The Trump Administration has announced new hiring criteria for federal jobs.  The new strategy prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations and establishes patriotism as a selection criterion. It also prohibits agencies from distributing workforce demographic data.

In a May 29 memorandum, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlined a Merit Hiring Plan consistent with Executive Order 14170.

Key provisions include:

  • Prohibiting the use of statistics on race, sex, ethnicity, or national origin — and the concept of underrepresentation of specific groups —in hiring or other employment decisions;
  • Eliminating special emphasis programs that consider protected characteristics in hiring, recruiting, retention, and advancement;
  • Prioritizing candidates who demonstrate patriotism and support for the Administration’s policies;
  • Focusing on skills rather than formal degrees;
  • Reducing time-to-hire to under 80 days;
  • Using data analytics to track hiring trends; and
  • Prohibiting the disclosure of workforce demographic data.

Most federal job applications will require essays on loyalty to the U.S. Constitution and readiness to support the President’s Executive Orders. Applicants must certify that they did not use AI in crafting their responses.

Members of the Center for Workplace Compliance (CWC), our affiliated nonprofit membership association, can read more here.