The extension continues authorities that in some cases have been in place for years. Image: tomertu/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffOPM has extended through next September direct hire authority for many positions in the STEM fields, acquisitions, as well as cybersecurity and related positions on grounds of having severe shortages of candidates and/or critical hiring needs.
The extension continues authorities that in some cases have been in place for years, while adding data science (GS-1560) and operations research (GS-1515) “to support agency efforts to expand artificial intelligence capabilities in the federal government,” says a memo on chcoc.gov.
Direct hire authority allows the hiring of candidates without use of standard procedures into competitive service career, career-conditional, term, or temporary positions for which there is a need to fill positions that traditional hiring procedures aren’t filling. The agency must use an assessment method to determine whether a candidate is qualified but after such a determination the candidate may be hired—subject to meeting suitability and security clearance requirements—without conducting additional ratings to determine relative degrees of qualifications.
“Agencies should assess applicants in the order in which the applications were received and select any qualified applicant in an order that approximates order of receipt. Qualified candidates with veterans’ preference should be selected as they are found, just as any qualified non-preference eligible candidate would be,” says the memo, which notes that agency use of the authority is subject to OPM oversight.
Senate Eyes Vote to Pay Federal Employees Working Unpaid
Series of Bills Offered to Address Shutdown’s Impact on Employees
Public Starting to Feel Impact of Shutdown, Survey Shows
OPM Details Coverage Changes, Plan Dropouts for FEHB/PSHB in 2026
Does My FEHB/PSHB Plan Stack Up? Here’s How to Tell
2025 TSP Rollercoaster and the G Fund Merry-go-Round
See also,
TSP Takes Step toward Upcoming In-Plan Roth Conversions
5 Steps to Protect Your Federal Job During the Shutdown
Over 30K TSP Accounts Have Crossed the Million Mark in 2025
