OPM’s “Hire-Palooza” Recruiting Tour: What Federal Merit Principles Say About Hiring

OPM’s “hire-palooza” and the recruiting tour that preceded it have prompted a fair question about federal merit hiring: who is the government trying to reach, and does the outreach match what federal merit principles call for? Here is what has been reported, and what applicants should know.

What Has Been Reported

According to Government Executive, OPM Director Scott Kupor is holding a “hire-palooza” on Thursday. Sean Michael Newhouse’s story, “OPM touts ‘hire-palooza’ event for early-career employees” (Oct. 27, 2026), covers the event. Kupor promoted it on The Charlie Kirk Show, where he described “job offers on the spot.”

The Interview and the Tour

About three minutes before that pitch, co-host Blake Neff said the bureaucracy is “filled up with so many committed ideologue career people,” and added, “We need people who have a conservative disposition.” Kupor replied, “Yeah, no, I think that’s a fair point,” and said the government needs people who “love this country.”

The recruiting effort has also included a college tour with conservative influencers. Kupor told commentator Benny Johnson, “I wanna see people like ‘Big Balls’… We need people like that,” and Johnson later joined Kupor on tour. At a University of Austin event, Kupor shared a stage with Joe Lonsdale on “the return of merit-based hiring to the civil service.” The event was co-sponsored by the David Network, which describes itself as “a network of young social conservatives” offering “referrals and placement.”

What Federal Merit Principles Say

Federal merit principles call for recruiting “from all segments of society” and for hiring after “fair and open competition.” Conservatives are part of all segments of society, and outreach to any group is not a problem on its own. The open question is whether an outreach effort is built to reach everyone, and whether the people hired are selected on merit through fair and open competition. Reasonable people can look at the same reporting and answer that differently.

What This Means for Federal Applicants

• Federal hiring decisions are supposed to be based on merit, not on political affiliation.
• Keep a record of your applications, including announcements, correspondence, and any statements made to you about the selection process.
• If you believe a hiring decision was influenced by something other than merit, you may have options, and they can be time-sensitive. Speak with a federal employment attorney early.

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Legal Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Federal employment situations are fact-specific and time-sensitive. Please consult a qualified federal employment attorney about your specific situation. You can contact Southworth PC at attorneysforfederalemployees.com.