OPM has expanded DHA to agencies for scientific, technical, engineering, mathematics and cyber positions while Congress has granted additional flexibilities. Image: joyfull/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffAs interest in use of direct-hire authority is growing, “it will be important to track not only how often it is used, but how it is used,” the MSPB has said.
A recent MSPB publication noted that a 2002 law gave OPM broad authority to allow agencies to use direct-hire for positions in which a critical hiring need or severe shortage of candidates exists. Use of the authority got off to what MSPB called a “slow start”—between 2,000 and 4,000 per year through 2004—then increased annually to above 13,000 in 2010, fell off for several years as the government slowed its hiring, and more recently rose again, hitting 16,000 in 2016 (although slipping a bit in 2017).
Use of the authority “has received increased interest from OPM, agencies, and Congress as the government struggles to fill mission-critical and technical positions. As a result, OPM has expanded and delegated DHA to agencies for a variety of scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics and cyber positions, and Congress has granted a number of additional direct-hire flexibilities directly to agencies through law,” MSPB said.
However, it added that use of direct-hire must be monitored because it “waives some key merit system and public policy provisions”—veterans preference does not apply, nor competitive rating and ranking procedures.
