Federal Manager's Daily Report

A new executive order strengthening the role of agency CIOs includes several provisions aimed at the government’s problems in filling IT-related positions, an issue also targeted in laws and other initiatives of recent years.

“The lengthy federal hiring process, which can take more than six months for many positions, makes recruiting talented IT employees more difficult,” according to a White House fact sheet.

The order envisions greater use of “direct hire” authority, a shortened process that can be used to fill positions for which there is a severe shortage of candidates or a critical hiring need. It instructs OPM to delegate to each agency the authority to decide whether such a shortage or need exists for their IT positions–in many cases the answer likely will be yes–and to promptly grant direct hire authority if so.

Employees hired using that authority would receive term appointments of up to four years, which could be extended up to four more years; they could not be transferred to non-IT positions.

Direct hire authority already currently applies government-wide to certain information security positions, as well as to certain positions in the medical and acquisition fields; in addition, there are some agency-specific authorities.