FEMA is the headcount. This is the application blank.
Reuters, Boston, Sept. 11: U.S. District Judge George O’Toole blocked the administration from continuing to ask civil-service applicants what unions called a partisan “loyalty question.” He sided with three unions — AFGE, plus AFSCME and NAGE in the same case — that sued after OPM began requiring essays on how applicants would advance Trump policies and executive orders. Case caption, per FedScoop: AFGE v. Kupor. Scott Kupor is the OPM director named.
Government Executive, 6:39 p.m. ET Friday: the stay covers the “favorite EO” essay for jobs GS-5 and above, at least until the litigation ends. O’Toole found he could not issue a preliminary injunction stopping agencies from considering answers already received. The question, from the Sept. 11 opinion: identify one or two relevant executive orders or policy initiatives and explain how you would help implement them if hired. It followed Executive Order 14170, Jan. 20, 2025.
He wrote plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the Administrative Procedure Act claim: “no legitimate governmental interest in inquiring into the political beliefs of applicants to federal civil service vacancies,” and the question was “not narrowly tailored.” AFGE President Everett Kelley: hire on ability, not allegiance. A stay is not a final judgment. Old packets were not shredded.
This is not the FEMA half-staff order. This is not the Dublin quote.
What this means for you
If you are applying to a career federal job, the essay is paused. If you already submitted one, the judge did not order it unread. If you needed a statute from Congress, this is not that.
Bottom line: Stop asking. GS-5 and up. Stay, not a verdict. Old answers can still be read.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
