A coalition of unions representing federal employees has filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of injecting political bias into government hiring by asking job applicants to demonstrate loyalty to the president’s policies.
Filed in federal court in Boston, the lawsuit targets a question introduced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as part of a recent overhaul of the civil service hiring process. The unions — including the American Federation of Government Employees, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and the National Association of Government Employees — argue that the new policy undermines the longstanding nonpartisan foundation of federal employment.
At the center of the dispute is a question that asks candidates:
“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.”
Union leaders claim this wording effectively screens applicants based on political allegiance, forcing them to either express agreement with the administration’s agenda or risk disqualification. They contend the policy violates the First Amendment by conditioning public employment on political speech and loyalty.
“This isn’t just unlawful,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “It damages the integrity of the civil service and denies Americans the chance to serve their nation free from political pressure.”
The lawsuit further argues that the question’s inclusion is arbitrary and violates the Privacy Act. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.
The hiring reform, unveiled in May, was designed to “restore merit” to government recruitment under an executive order signed by President Trump earlier this year. But unions insist the move marks a retreat from the century-old principle that federal jobs must remain insulated from partisan influence — a cornerstone of American public service since the early 1900s.
