Suitability Investigation Changes Proposed

OPM has proposed changes in the procedures used for determining whether current federal employees are “suitable” for their positions, aiming to speed up and simplify a process that often leaves employees who are changing jobs in limbo for extended periods because agencies often don’t accept each others’ determinations. The current policy is that for competitive service or career SES employees, a new suitability investigation is required when there has been a change in the employee’s public trust risk level or there is a need for reinvestigation under law or regulation. In addition, however, agencies may require reinvestigations at their discretion in other circumstances, such as when an employee is transferring from another agency.