Judge Blocks Trump Administration Loyalty Questions for Federal Jobs

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole blocked the Donald Trump administration from requiring civil service job applicants to answer a partisan loyalty question. The ruling follows a lawsuit by three unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, which argued that the Office of Personnel Management unlawfully politicized the hiring process for nonpartisan federal roles.

The contested requirement forced applicants to write essays explaining how they would advance the president's policies and executive orders. The Office of Personnel Management implemented the question following a January 2025 executive order intended to ensure the federal workforce consisted of individuals dedicated to American ideals, values, and interests. Union lawyers stated that over 70,000 job postings had included the requirement.

Judge O’Toole ruled that the practice likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act and infringed on First Amendment speech rights. He noted that the Civil Service Reform Act prohibits employment decisions based on political affiliation, concluding that there is likely no legitimate governmental interest in inquiring into the political beliefs of applicants for federal civil service vacancies.