Federal Government Ends 44-Year-Old Court Order on Skill-Based Hiring Tests

The U.S. federal government has officially terminated a longstanding court order from 1981 that restricted the use of skill-based testing in federal hiring processes. Announced by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, this decision marks the end of a 44-year-old decree that previously mandated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) considerations in government employment practices. The decree originated from a lawsuit filed by Angel Luevano, who challenged the Professional and Administrative Career Examination for allegedly limiting opportunities for Black and Hispanic applicants. During the Carter administration, the government agreed to suspend the test for five years, but the court order remained in effect for decades. In recent years, the Trump administration challenged the decree, arguing that it was outdated and incompatible with current Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action. The removal of this restriction is seen as a move toward merit-based hiring, potentially improving government efficiency by allowing objective assessments of candidates' qualifications. Officials believe this change could attract highly qualified applicants and foster a high-performance...