# 2025-02094: Merit-Based Hiring Returns: DEI Out, Patriotism In for Feds

2025-02094, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service, is a Federal Register presidential document from Executive Office of the President published 2025-01-30, effective 2025-01-20 (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02094
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-02094
- Title: Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service
- Type: Presidential Document
- Agencies: Executive Office of the President
- Citation: unknown
- Published: 2025-01-30
- Effective: 2025-01-20
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-04

## In one line

Merit-Based Hiring Returns: DEI Out, Patriotism In for Feds

## Summary

The government is fixing its hiring process to bring in skilled Americans who love our country and follow the Constitution. This means no more hiring based on race, sex, or beliefs unrelated to job skills. Agencies have 120 days to create a new plan that makes hiring faster, fairer, and focused on talent, helping build a stronger federal workforce without wasting taxpayer money.

## Effects PRIA read

- Faster Federal Hiring Timeline: benefit, medium. The order directs a government-wide goal to reduce time-to-hire to under 80 days. Agencies are required to adopt plans (developed within 120 days of the order) that shorten hiring timelines and improve candidate communication, including regular updates on application status.
- Ban on Hiring Based on Race, Sex, Religion: benefit, low. The order requires that Federal hiring prevent making hiring decisions based on an applicant's race, sex, or religion. It states hiring should not be based on impermissible factors such as commitments framed as 'equity' or the concept of 'gender identity' over sex.
- Constitutional Commitment as Hiring Criterion: cost, low. The order directs prioritizing recruitment of individuals committed to upholding the Constitution and preventing hiring of individuals who are unwilling to defend the Constitution or faithfully serve the Executive Branch.
- New Skill Assessments in Hiring: benefit, medium. The order requires agencies to implement technical and alternative assessments to the greatest extent possible as required by the Chance to Compete Act of 2024, shifting selection toward practical skill evaluations.
- Modern Tech and Candidate Communication: benefit, low. Agencies must integrate modern technology, data analytics, and digital platforms to improve recruitment and candidate engagement, and provide clearer updates and feedback on applications.
- Reallocation of Senior Executive Service Positions: mixed, medium. The Federal Hiring Plan must include specific agency plans to improve allocation of Senior Executive Service positions in named agencies (Cabinet agencies, EPA, OMB, SBA, SSA, NSF, OPM, GSA) to 'best facilitate democratic leadership.'

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## Sources
- [2025-02094 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/30/2025-02094/reforming-the-federal-hiring-process-and-restoring-merit-to-government-service)
- [2025-02094 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-30/pdf/2025-02094.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-02091, Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02091)
- [Next: 2025-02095, Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Wor…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02095)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02094 (as of 2026-11-04).