In what sounds more like a deleted scene from The Handmaid’s Tale than actual federal policy, President Donald Trump is reportedly requiring Department of Defense (DOD) employees to sign a loyalty pledge—and write a two-page essay praising his administration. Yes, really.
The bombshell dropped during a June 2025 CNN town hall hosted by Jim Acosta, when a visibly frustrated audience member—who identified herself as a military spouse, veteran, and current DOD employee—told the room she received an email just days earlier mandating both a loyalty pledge and a personal essay about support for the Trump administration.
“So our upcoming federal employees take an oath to the Constitution,” she began, before this mic drop: “But we also have to do a two-page essay on why we support the new administration. No. What the literal f— is going on?”
The crowd erupted in disbelief, and Acosta—who’s not known for holding back—responded: “Our loyalty is to the United States of America, ma’am. Thank you for bringing that up.”
Wait, is this even legal?
Short answer: It’s complicated. Loyalty oaths have existed in various forms throughout American history, especially during the McCarthy era. But requiring personal allegiance to a specific political leader—especially in a military or federal workforce setting—teeters dangerously close to authoritarian cosplay.
As reported by Military.com, some top brass in the armed forces are, understandably, less than thrilled. “It could be very hard to do our job if we have to constantly be making sure we’re appeasing someone on a political or partisan level,” said one lieutenant general, under condition of anonymity. Translation: The military isn’t here to play political fetch.
Veterans are not amused
Are you a federal employee?
— gRANTwriter (she/her) (@jrzgrlz) June 5, 2025
If so, get ready for the new federal employee standards: Pledge your loyalty to Trump, and that includes writing a two-page essay on why you support the Trump administration. https://t.co/YrkyXkvlpY
The outrage isn’t limited to active-duty service members. Morgan Akin, an 84-year-old Vietnam-era U.S. Marine veteran in California, recently made headlines for removing the American flag from his property, citing disgust with the Trump loyalty push. “He’s tearing the country apart,” Akin told The Guardian.
Meanwhile, federal employee unions are being called on to challenge the legality of the move. As the town hall speaker noted, “That needs to be addressed by our unions more than anything.” And she’s not wrong—compelling loyalty to a political figure as a condition of employment may violate both First Amendment protections and long-standing civil service norms.
Why this is a big deal (and not just inside the beltway)
Today’s show was my last at CNN. My closing message: It’s never a good time to bow down to a tyrant… don’t give in to the lies. Don’t give in to fear. Hold on to the truth… and hope. pic.twitter.com/sGhSWSyPMz
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) January 28, 2025
Trump’s renewed obsession with personal loyalty over constitutional duty isn’t new, but forcing Defense Department employees to write glowing essays about him is a new low. This goes beyond partisan antics—this is about whether federal employees are allowed to think for themselves without risking their jobs.
If this town hall sounds like a buzzy season finale, that’s because it kind of was. The June event was one of Acosta’s final public appearances after he announced his departure from CNN in January 2025. In typical Acosta fashion, he used the moment to rally around democratic values and remind the room: “Don’t give in to the lies. Don’t give in to the fear. Hold on to the truth—and to hope.” His sign-off now feels eerily prescient.
It also highlights a larger question: What happens to a democracy when one man demands total loyalty from institutions meant to be impartial? Let’s just say, if the Founding Fathers were around, they’d be flipping their powdered wigs.
