How Trump has Politicized Federal Hiring

A new policy features loyalty tests, undermining the goal of a nonpartisan public service.

Jun 10, 2025

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*President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting featuring “Gulf of America” hats, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cabinet Room. | Official White House Photo by Molly Riley*

Trump’s Office of Personnel Management released a new policy on federal hiring. While the policy makes many of the right noises about reforming an area with real problems, it also dri…

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A guest post by

Don Moynihan

Guggenheim Fellow, Professor of Public Policy, Ford School, University of Michigan. Immigrant. Researches and teaches about state capacity, tech in government, administrative burdens, and politicization.