Streamlining Probationary and Trial Period Appeals

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 Parts 11, 230, 315, 432, 751, and 752 [Docket ID: OPM-2025-0013] RIN 3206-AO96 ( printed page 49072) AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to change the circumstances and procedures for adjudicating appeals from employees terminated during their probationary and trial periods and supervisors and managers who fail to complete their probationary periods. Executive order, “Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service,” rendered the prior procedures for appealing such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) inoperative. This final rule establishes a new, limited appeals process adjudicated by OPM. The final rule also makes conforming amendments. DATES: Effective September 2, 2026. Covered actions ( i.e., terminations, assignments, noncertifications, or failures to certify/finalize) effected before the effective date of this rule are not governed by this final rule. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Gottesman, Senior Advisor to the Director, by email at employeeaccountability@opm.gov or by phone at (202) 606-2930. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is issuing this final rule to establish streamlined appeal procedures for employees terminated during their probationary or trial periods and supervisors and managers who fail to complete their probationary periods. [ 1 ] Under Executive Order (E.O.) 14284, the Presid…