OPM's hiring strategy allegedly incorporates a "bold loyalty assessment" as per statements made by Lynch

The Trump administration's recently published 'Talent Application Plan' has sparked controversy, with critics claiming it politicises the federal workforce. The plan, initiated by John Smith on September 5, 2025, includes essay questions for federal job applicants at a GS-5 salary or above.

One of the questions asks job seekers to explain how they would help implement significant executive orders or policy initiatives if hired. This has raised concerns that the administration is encouraging loyalty to its political agenda.

Jacque Simon, public policy director for the American Federation of Government Employees, criticised the new essay questions in a statement last week. Simon called the questions a "glaring violation of merit principles" and compared them to being "practically Maoist."

Simon also stated that requiring candidates to positively discuss Donald Trump's executive orders and policies is contrary to the apolitical nature of the civil service. The public policy director further emphasised that glorification of a political leader should not be a prerequisite for obtaining a federal job.

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., has urged the administration to rescind the plan, blasting the new essay questions as an effort to politicise the federal workforce. Lynch called a provision in the plan mandating essay questions about favourite Trump policies a "blatant loyalty test."

Notably, the plan does not mention the reinstatement and renaming of Schedule F, an initiative to strip tens of thousands of career employees in "policy-related" positions of their civil service protections. Nor does it address the administration's encouragement of agencies to fill more executive level jobs with political appointees rather than career members of the Senior Executive Service.

Despite the controversy, it is important to note that every federal worker is legally required to take an oath of office that they will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The oath does not require federal workers to swear to protect and defend executive orders or policy initiatives, or to have loyalty to a president or political party.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the administration will respond to the criticisms of its new hiring plan.

OPM's hiring strategy allegedly incorporates a "bold loyalty assessment" as per statements made by Lynch