I'm a US fed and this seemed so routine to me that I was more surprised that the LW was surprised by it. Grant you, a state-level job seems a bit out of scope but without knowing more details, enh, maybe it's relevant? My agency works with sensitive data, though, so we have to be very careful about making sure everyone takes the responsibility to maintain privacy very seriously.

Of course, for a bit I was in a position involving new hire orientation and got to administer that oath. Of all the dozens and dozens of people I helped bring on board, I think there was one person who declined to take the oath and walked out when we got to that point.