MASSIVE Federal Hiring Shake-Up: What Every Federal Job Seeker and Promotion-Ready Employee Needs to Know Now

New rules. Shorter resumes. Mandatory assessments. And a whole new way to get promoted. 

Sweeping changes are already reshaping how the federal government recruits and promotes talent. Here’s what’s changing and how to stay ahead.

Two landmark memos released on May 29, 2025, one outlining a new Merit Hiring Plan and the other redefining Senior Executive Service (SES) hiring and development. Both are signaling a major transformation of the federal workforce.

If you’re a federal job seeker or current employee aiming for a promotion or SES position, this is more than just policy change, it’s a complete culture shift. And it’s already underway.

Some reforms are already in effect. Others must be implemented by October 1, 2025.

Agencies are required to track their progress monthly—and job seekers who understand what’s ahead will be better positioned to respond. 

FOR FEDERAL JOB SEEKERS: WHAT THE NEW MERIT HIRING PLAN MEANS 

Skills-Based Hiring Is Now Mandatory

Resumes and self-assessments aren’t enough. Agencies are required to evaluate applicants using validated technical or alternative assessments, not self-reported questionnaires. 

“Every hiring process across the competitive service… must include at least one technical or alternative assessment before issuance of the certificate.”
– Merit Hiring Plan Memo, May 29, 2025 

These assessments may include writing samples, work simulations, interviews, and other tools designed to measure job-related competencies. 

A 2-Page Resume Is Now Required

The traditional federal resume is being replaced. The applications will now begin with a maximum two-page resume, a move designed to modernize the process.

New 200-Word Essay Questions for GS-05 and Above

All job announcements at GS-05 and above will now require candidates to answer four short essay questions, each no more than 200 words. These are designed to evaluate alignment with constitutional values, policy understanding, and work ethic.
 

The Four Mandatory Essay Questions Are: 

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government?
   
   Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
   
   
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?
   Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.  

    

3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role?
   
   Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
   
   
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic, or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. 

DEI Programs Are Discontinued

The memo mandates that all hiring, promotion, and development programs be race- and gender-neutral. As stated: 

“Agencies may not directly or indirectly discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, or national origin… An asserted interest in ‘diversity’ or ‘equity’ cannot justify discrimination.” 

Hiring Will Be Faster and More Transparent

A government-wide goal has been set: reduce time-to-hire to under 80 days. This will be achieved through:

• Pooled hiring and shared certificates 

• Resume mining 

• Automated candidate notifications in USAJOBS 

• Consolidation of USAJOBS and USA Staffing platforms

NOTE: President Obama also instituted an 80-day-to-hire memo while President Biden shifted the focus to quality-to-hire metrics removing mandatory reporting on the 80-day benchmark. 

Talent Teams Will Lead Implementation

Every agency must now establish an internal Talent Team to oversee hiring reforms. These teams will be led by the agency CHCO and supported by OPM’s central Talent Team. 

FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES SEEKING SES ROLES: WHAT THE NEW SES MEMO MEANS 

The SES guidance released May 29, 2025 completely overhauls how SES talent is selected, trained, and certified.
 

New Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)

The long-standing ECQs are being updated focusing on values, performance, and mission alignment. ECQ 1 is new. ECQs 2-5 resemble the previous framework, but notably, ECQ 3 now includes technical skills—removing the requirement for separate Technical Qualifications statements. 

The five ECQs are: 

1. Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding. Includes civic-mindedness, constitutional literacy, and a strong public service ethic.

    

2. Driving Efficiency. Emphasizes budget management, technology use, and cutting waste.

    

    

3. Merit and Competence. Reflects technical skill, problem-solving, and adaptability.

    

    

4. Leading People. Focuses on accountability, developing others, and building high-performance teams.

    

    

5. Achieving Results. Centers on aligning outcomes with strategic goals and implementing solutions.

    

“These changes… will drive a cultural shift in the SES—ensuring that it comprises only ‘the highest caliber of civil servants committed to achieving the freedom, prosperity, and democratic rule that our Constitution promotes.’”
 

SES Applications Will No Longer Include 10-Page ECQ Essays

Effective immediately, agencies must use a resume-only method (2 pages maximum) for SES applications. All candidate evaluations will be based on:

• Structured interviews 

• Executive assessments 

• Qualification Review Board (QRB) evaluations
  
   

New Structured Interviews and Assessments Required

“Beginning in FY 2026, OPM will transition… to a Structured Interview assessment method, based on the new Executive Core Qualifications, for all Qualifications Review Board submissions.”

 

Updated SES Candidate Development Programs (CDPs)

Agencies must update their SES CDPs by October 31, 2025. New program standards include: 

• 100 hours of training 

• 120-day developmental assignments 

• Minimum 10 hours of mentoring and coaching 

• OPM-standardized Executive Development Plans 

All programs must align with the new ECQs and be approved by OPM prior to launching new cohorts.
 

New OPM-Led Training Launches September 1, 2025

An intensive 80-hour course titled Leadership for an Efficient and Accountable Government will be available for GS-14s, 15s, and equivalents. The training will cover: 

• The Constitution and Founding documents 

• Strategic decision-making 

• Crisis and fiscal leadership 

• Executive Orders issued under the current administration (Link Below)
   

Executive Resources Boards (ERBs) Gain Strategic Control

Agency ERBs are now required to be chaired by political appointees and they are required to serve a greater role in: 

• Talent forecasting 

• CDP oversight 

• Succession planning 

• Candidate approvals for SES appointment 

What You Can Do Now! 

Whether you’re navigating the Merit Hiring Plan or positioning yourself for the SES, one thing is clear: now is the time to realign your approach and dare I say…STRATEGY.
 

For Federal Job Seekers: 

• Update your resume to meet the 2-page requirement 

• Prepare for technical assessments 

• Write and refine your four 200-word essay responses 

• Learn how to articulate your alignment with mission, efficiency, and the Constitution
   

For Aspiring SES Candidates:

• Align your experience with the updated ECQs 

• Practice for structured interviews 

• Explore executive assessments such as USA Hire’s Executive Assessment or Assessment Center 

• Enroll in a compliant SES Candidate Development Program, or prepare for the new OPM-led training this fall 

 

While studying these memos, the overarching theme that kept coming up for me was the quote: “If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter.” —Blaise Pascal 

Now more than ever, it’s essential to invest in writing that is concise, compelling, and results driven. 

Need help?

Whether you’re applying to your first federal role or preparing for SES candidacy, now is the time to implement top-level, real-world strategy.

Our proven Get H.I.R.E.D. framework and strategy for writing your resume, assessment questions, and ECQs will make it easy to showcase why you are a good fit for the role.  

Let’s work together to help you stand out—and get hired! 

RESOURCES: 

🔗 Read the Merit Hiring Plan Memo
🔗 Read the SES Hiring and Talent Development Memo
🔗 Browse President Trump’s 2025 Executive Orders
🔗 View the full list of 2025 Executive Orders