New Lawsuit Could Restore Fairness and End Racial Quotas in Federal Hiring
A powerful legal group closely aligned with President Donald Trump is taking direct aim at one of the federal government’s longest-standing affirmative action-style hiring policies—one that critics say prioritizes race over results.
The America First Legal Foundation (AFL), founded by Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller, has filed a major federal lawsuit in Washington, D.C., seeking to dismantle a 1981 court decree that ended merit-based hiring exams for federal jobs. The legal challenge could unravel a cornerstone of Biden-era diversity hiring practices still lingering from the Carter administration.
“This 44-year-old policy is not only illegal—it’s costing America its best and brightest public servants,” said AFL senior counsel Nick Barry.
What Is the Luevano Consent Decree?
The policy at the center of the lawsuit, known as the Luevano consent decree, was established under President Jimmy Carter to settle claims of racial discrimination in hiring. It replaced standardized civil service exams with alternative assessments, which critics call confusing, unaccountable, and biased against qualified candidates.
Conservatives argue this system has paved the way for diversity mandates, quotas, and race-based favoritism that continue to infect federal agencies.
Trump Allies Push for Merit, Not Mandates
AFL, backed by the respected conservative firm Boyden Gray PLLC, says the time has come to restore fairness and eliminate outdated affirmative action policies that have no place in modern governance.
“The federal workforce should reflect competence and dedication—not racial preferences,” said Dan Epstein, AFL Vice President. “This is about results, not tokenism.”
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) had already signaled interest in ending the outdated hiring system. With AFL’s legal muscle behind the effort, the push now carries renewed weight—and political firepower.
Trump’s America First Vision in Action
Though AFL operates independently, the group’s founder, Stephen Miller, is now back in the White House helping drive policy in the second Trump administration. His influence is being felt across key issues—especially in rolling back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates and restoring meritocracy in both education and public employment.
The case also coincides with President Trump’s broader initiative to streamline bloated government bureaucracy through DOGE, the efficiency agency led by Elon Musk. Under Trump’s direction, DOGE is cutting waste, downsizing ineffective programs, and holding bureaucrats accountable to taxpayers.
Why It Matters to Everyday Americans
This legal challenge isn’t just about federal jobs—it’s about rebuilding trust in government, cutting waste, and ensuring that qualified citizens—not politically selected hires—serve the American people.
“When we hire based on qualifications, not identity politics, the country wins,” Epstein emphasized. “Every taxpayer deserves a government that works harder, smarter, and free of racial bias.”
The Biden administration and OPM have so far declined to comment. But for millions of older Americans who believe in fairness, faith, and freedom, this lawsuit represents a turning point—and a return to the core American value of equal opportunity through personal achievement.
