What did the Civil Service Act encourage among officials?

The Civil Service Act was designed to promote merit-based hiring and to ensure that government officials were primarily loyal to the United States rather than to political parties or individual interests. By establishing a professional civil service system, the act aimed to create an efficient and competent government workforce, less susceptible to political pressures and corruption. This shift towards loyalty to the nation emphasized public service as a priority over allegiance to any political party or private organization. The intent was to uphold the integrity of government operations, encouraging officials to act in the best interests of the American public and ensure that governmental roles were filled based on qualifications and performance rather than political connections.