In the United States, there are forty years of basic employment laws on the books, preventing public and private employers from refusing to hire applicants based on several criteria.
Those who violate these laws are subject to prosecution, fines, and more.
However, when the federal government breaks its own laws, the situation is even more serious.
Refusing to hire someone based on something as petty as race, gender, or age is counter to the values America holds dear, and the government has a special obligation to operate by these values.
If you believe you have been passed over for a job opportunity based on discrimination, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the federal government.
Understanding the Laws Since the 1960s, there have been several laws placed on the books meant to protect applicants from being discriminated against for a number of reasons.
Some of the laws and what they protect include:

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people from being refused employment based on race, color, sex, nationality, or religion.
  
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects people who are over 40 years of age from being passed over because of age-related concerns.
  
• The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 protects applicants who have bad debt or have filed for bankruptcy.
  
• The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 makes it illegal for employers to discriminate based on the national origin or immigration status of prospective employees.
  
• The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 protects people with disabilities.
  
• The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 bans employers from taking genetic information into account during the hiring process.