President Donald Trump signed a new executive order yesterday aiming to overhaul federal hiring, with measures that stress practical skill, constitutional dedication and speed in filling vacancies, according to the text of the order. It was issued hours after Trump was sworn into office.
The order states, “American citizens deserve an excellent and efficient Federal workforce that attracts the highest caliber of civil servants committed to achieving the freedom, prosperity, and democratic rule that our Constitution promotes.” It describes current hiring practices as “broken, insular, and outdated.”
Within 120 days, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, working with the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), must present a Federal Hiring Plan. The plan will focus on bringing in “highly skilled Americans dedicated to the furtherance of American ideals, values, and interests,” the order says.
‘Impermissible factors’
The plan is designed to prevent hiring based on “impermissible factors,” including race or sex, and to stop the recruitment of candidates who “are unwilling to defend the Constitution.” Agencies must also use technical and alternative assessments, as required by the Chance to Compete Act of 2024, the order says.
Time to hire goal: 80 days or less
A key goal is reducing the time-to-hire to under 80 days. Agencies are required to give candidates clear communication about timelines and application progress, including feedback where appropriate. The order directs the government to “integrate modern technology to support the recruitment and selection process,” such as data analytics to pinpoint gaps and trends in hiring.
The order calls on agency heads to be involved at every stage of these procedures. It also requires specific strategies to improve the allocation of Senior Executive Service positions across major agencies and departments.
OPM will set performance metrics for these reforms and collect regular analysis from agencies. The order says OPM will work with government bodies and labour groups “to monitor progress and ensure that the reforms are meeting the needs of both candidates and agencies.”
Trump’s directive notes it will be carried out “consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.” It states that the order does not create any new legal rights enforceable against the United States.
