The order supersedes and revokes a Clinton administration executive order that had established the Federal Career Intern Program, which agencies found very useful in recruiting new employees but that some labor unions said allowed them to circumvent the competitive hiring process.
According to the order, individuals serving in FCIP appointments will be converted to the competitive service with no loss of pay or benefits as of March 1, 2011.
The National Treasury Employees Union, which had filed a lawsuit challenging the FCIP’s implementing regulations – a suit the White House failed to get the court to dismiss – called the Pathways Program order a "key victory."
However, it said it was holding out judgment on other aspects of the order. Specifically, the union said that outside of internships it would like to see the competitive hiring process apply across the board.
"We see no reason why the existing competitive hiring procedures should not remain the primary hiring method for recent college graduates," said NTEU president Colleen Kelley.
She added that the program should be "very narrowly drawn" and that the union has "concerns about the operation of this new program."
