A federal judge in Boston has blocked the Trump administration from requiring prospective federal employees to answer a political “loyalty” question during the government hiring process.

Judge Challenges Federal Hiring Requirement

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole ruled against the administration after three government employee unions challenged the policy. The question asked applicants to explain how they would support President Donald Trump’s policies if hired.

The judge found that the requirement likely conflicted with federal civil-service protections and First Amendment rights, particularly because federal hiring rules are designed to protect merit-based and nonpartisan employment.

More Than 70,000 Job Listings Affected

The controversial question reportedly appeared in more than 70,000 federal job listings, according to the court case. The Office of Personnel Management had argued that the question was optional and was intended to assess applicants’ willingness to implement administration policies rather than their political affiliation.

The ruling represents another legal challenge to the administration’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce.

The case could have broader implications for federal hiring, civil-service protections and the balance between presidential policy control and a nonpartisan government workforce.