Employment in the Excepted Service

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 213, 302, 317, 359, 362, 432, 550, 731, 920, and 930 [Docket ID: OPM-2026-0166] RIN 3206-AO92 ( printed page 59076) AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposes to amend its regulations governing the excepted service, Pathways Programs, and administrative law judge (ALJ) appointments. The proposed rule would conform OPM regulations to current excepted-service schedules, including Schedules E, Policy/Career, and G; modernize part 302 procedures while preserving veterans' preference, compensable-injury restoration rights, and other priority placement rights; authorize and clarify Pathways conversions to Schedule Policy/Career; and make related conforming amendments. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 17, 2026. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by using the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov . Follow the instructions for submitting comments. All submissions must include the agency name and docket number or RIN for this Federal Register document. Please arrange and identify your comments about the regulatory text by subpart and section number. If your comments relate to the supplementary information, please refer to the heading and page number in the supplementary section. All comments must be received by the end of the comment period for them to be considered. All comments and other submissions received generally will b…