Hiring Authority for College Graduates

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Office of Personnel Management 5 CFR Part 315 [Docket ID: OPM-2026-0034] RIN 3206-AN79 ( printed page 8067) AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to amend its career and career-conditional employment regulations. The revision is necessary to implement the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. This statute requires OPM to issue regulations establishing a hiring authority for college graduates into positions at specified grades in the competitive service. The intended effect of the authority is to provide additional flexibility in hiring eligible and qualified individuals. DATES: This final rule is effective March 23, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katika Floyd at (202) 606-0960, by fax at (202) 606-4430, TDD at (202) 418-3134, or by email at employ@opm.gov . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 5, 2021, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published an interim rule with request for comments in the Federal Register at 86 FR 61043 to implement the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 3115 for appointing college graduates into positions at specified grades in the competitive service. Summary of Comments During the 60-day comment period between November 5, 2021, and January 4, 2022, OPM received seven sets of written comments. The comments received were from one federal agency, five members of the public, and one labor union representing fed…