Executive Order 14168: Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service
The executive order aims to reform federal hiring practices, arguing that current methods are inefficient and outdated. The goal is to attract the best civil servants who are dedicated to American ideals, focusing on merit, practical skills, and commitment to the Constitution, while rejecting the influence of race, sex, religion, or identity politics in hiring decisions. The order stresses that hiring should be based on the ability to serve the nation effectively, and it sets a plan to overhaul the recruitment process within 120 days, improving efficiency, reducing hiring time, and utilizing technology to streamline the process.
The proposed reforms include:
Prioritizing recruitment of individuals committed to American values and the Constitution.
Banning hiring based on race, sex, or religion.
Using technical assessments to determine qualifications.
Decreasing government hiring time to under 80 days.
Modernizing recruitment through technology and data analytics.
Ensuring agency leadership is involved in the process.
Establishing performance metrics for accountability.
Takeaway
This reform could be seen as an attempt to undermine diversity and inclusion efforts that aim to make the federal workforce more representative of the population it serves. Critics argue that focusing on excluding factors like race, gender identity, and religion could ignore the importance of fostering an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives. In a democracy that prides itself on equality, it’s essential to consider the lived experiences and identities of people, as they contribute to a workforce that is more empathetic, innovative, and in tune with the needs of the public. A narrow approach to hiring could potentially overlook qualified individuals who could bring invaluable perspectives to federal agencies, ultimately hindering the government’s ability to fully serve its diverse citizenry. Additionally, while reducing hiring time is beneficial, it's equally important to ensure that the hiring process remains thorough and equitable, not rushed at the expense of diversity and fairness.
