But Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an employee association made up of federal, state and local government workers, on Wednesday called on acting U.S. Special Counsel Jamieson Greer to take action against the questionnaire. The group argued that the executive order question in particular violates federal hiring laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of “non-performance-related factors” and political affiliation, and that it conflicts with merit system principles.
“In this instance, the identified question clearly appears designed to advantage Trump loyalists and disadvantage, or even disqualify, federal job applicants who are indifferent to or do not care for President Trump,” wrote PEER Executive Director Timothy Whitehouse. “In short, this required question functions as an illegal litmus test for federal job applicants.”