ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 14170Executive OrderTrump 47 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 14170

Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service

This executive order directs a comprehensive reform of federal hiring practices to prioritize merit, efficiency, and ideological alignment with administration goals. It mandates development of a Federal Hiring Plan within 120 days that emphasizes skills-based assessments, reduces time-to-hire, and explicitly prohibits consideration of DEI-related factors while requiring loyalty to the Constitution and Executive Branch.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 8621

Impact dates

  1. Time-to-hire reduction target effective

  2. Federal Hiring Plan developed and sent to agency heads

Key directives

  • Develop Federal Hiring Plan within 120 days
  • Prioritize candidates committed to efficiency and American republic ideals
  • Prohibit hiring based on race, sex, religion; screen for Constitution defense willingness
  • Implement technical/alternative assessments per Chance to Compete Act 2024
  • Reduce government-wide time-to-hire to under 80 days
  • Improve candidate communication with regular updates
  • Integrate modern technology and data analytics for recruitment
  • Ensure agency leadership active in hiring process
  • Develop specific agency plans for SES position allocation in 10 named agencies
  • OPM establish clear performance metrics and regular agency analysis
  • OPM consult with agencies, labor organizations, other stakeholders

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO takes effect
  • ideological framing of hiring priorities established

Near term (90d)

  • Federal Hiring Plan development (120 days)
  • agency heads receive plan
  • OPM establishes performance metrics

Long term

  • implementation of technical assessments
  • time-to-hire reduction to under 80 days
  • SES position reallocation across agencies
  • DOGE-advised HR best practices rollout

Risks & tensions

  • Vague loyalty tests ('committed to upholding the Constitution,' 'faithfully serve the Executive Branch') risk politicizing civil service and may conflict with merit system principles
  • Prohibition on 'race, sex, religion' hiring appears to prohibit DEI practices but text frames as anti-discrimination, creating legal tension with existing civil rights frameworks
  • DOGE involvement in federal hiring is unprecedented and role unclear
  • 'Democratic leadership' framing for SES reallocation may conflict with statutory civil service protections
  • Chance to Compete Act 2024 reference may create implementation gaps if regulations not yet promulgated
Executive Order 14170: Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service · Executive Orders