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5d ago

Federal Unions Sue OPM Over ‘Loyalty’ Essay in Merit Hiring Plan

The complaint says the prompt compels political speech, turning civil service hiring into a test of allegiance.

Security members lower the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) flag outside the headquarters of the OPM, after probationary staff at the OPM were fired in a conference call and given less than an hour to leave the building, in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Tierney L. Cross /File Photo
A view shows the logo of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), after probationary staff at the OPM were fired in a conference call and given less than an hour to leave the building, outside OPM in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025. REUTERS/Tierney L. Cross/File Photo
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Overview

  • AFGE, AFSCME and NAGE filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Boston challenging OPM’s May hiring plan.
  • The plan requires four essays for GS-5-and-above roles, including: “How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role?”
  • Union filings cite OPM training and guidance indicating responses are weighed in selections and reviewed by senior political leadership despite assurances they are voluntary and not scored.
  • The questions appear across thousands of career postings, with at least 5,800 overall and more than 1,700 since October, spanning roles unrelated to politics.
  • OPM and the White House defend the prompts as lawful and optional, while the suit alleges First Amendment, Administrative Procedure Act and Privacy Act violations and no court ruling has been issued.