Federal judge blocks Trump administration's civil service loyalty questions

A federal judge in Boston has blocked the Trump administration from using a “loyalty question” on applications for civil service jobs. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole ruled in favor of three unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, which sued the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) last year.

The contested questions required applicants for various federal roles—ranging from air traffic controllers to nuclear materials couriers—to write essays explaining how they would help advance the president’s executive orders and policy priorities. The unions argued that these requirements unlawfully politicized the hiring process for nonpartisan career positions.

Judge O’Toole stated that the plaintiffs are likely to show there is “no legitimate governmental interest in inquiring into the political beliefs of applicants to federal civil service vacancies.” He further noted that the practice likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The requirement originated from an executive order aimed at reforming the federal hiring process to ensure the workforce is dedicated to specific American ideals and interests. According to reports, over 70,000 job postings had included the question.