Congress Clears Bill Designed to Widen Pool of Candidates for Federal Jobs

Agencies could use subject matter experts to develop position-specific technical assessments that could include structured interviews. Image: FAMILY STOCK/Shutterstock.com

The House has joined the Senate in passing S-59, which aims to widen the pool of candidates for federal jobs by downplaying the role of educational credentials in job qualifications requirements, while encouraging use of assessment methods that allow applicants to demonstrate job-related skills, abilities and knowledge they have gained outside the educational environment.

The bill would put into law that policy, started in 2020 by a Trump administration order and that has been continued under the Biden administration, along with prohibiting examinations that consist solely of a self-assessment by the candidate. As the bill moved through final voting, language was added allowing agencies to make such changes over as much as three years, and allowing for exceptions so long as they explain their rationale.

Agencies could use subject matter experts to develop position-specific technical assessments that could include structured interviews, work-related exercises, procedures to measure career-related qualifications and interests, or other similar assessments.

OPM would have to create online platforms through which agencies may share and customize technical assessments and share the résumés of qualifying applicants; it also would have to create online platforms with information about the types of assessments used and hiring outcomes.

The House also has passed HR-9595, to require the Federal Acquisition Institute to broaden training for acquisition employees, including a cross-functional information and communications technology training program for those involved those procurements; and to streamlining documentation and qualification requirements to better enable small businesses to compete for federal contracts.

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