OPM Extends COVID-19 Hiring Authority Extension
Under an extension announced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) last week, federal agencies will have through June 30, 2022, to use the special Schedule A hiring authority established as a pandemic response.
As previously reported in FEDmanager, upon initial approval on March 20, 2020, agencies were allowed to hire directly to a position at any grade level for one year – with an option to extend it for another year – without having to undergo normal recruitment processes, provided that the position is fundamental to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“OPM understands that during this time, agencies need more tools to conduct strategic, targeted hiring for specific, short-term roles to meet mission and/or hiring needs. No new appointments may be made under this authority after June 30, 2022, or upon termination of this public health emergency, whichever comes first,” stated OPM Director Kiran Ahuja in a memo.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report in October revealing about 2,000 new federal employees were hired under Schedule A authority among the survey’s ten selected agencies.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials report that the hiring authority allowed the agency to fast-track the hiring process, to share relevant applicant pools, and to successfully recruit applicants specifically interested in COVID-19 positions. At HHS, most of the COVID-19 Schedule A authority was used to hire Medical Support Assistants, Nursing Assistants, and Security Guards.
The Department of Commerce (DOC), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) didn't utilize the COVID-19 Schedule A hiring authority in 2020.
Initially, some of the selected agencies lacked understanding of how to use the COVID-19 related hiring authority. COVID-19 Schedule A authority was different from the traditional Schedule A authority for individuals with disabilities, a challenge the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encountered when using COVID-19 related authorities. VA's Chief Human Capital Office, however, issued guidance and training that clarified differences. The Smithsonian was unaware of certain legal distinctions involved in requesting direct hiring authority (DHA) from OPM as Smithsonian officials had never sought it prior. In turn, they didn't know which positions would be approved by the DHA under OPM's requirements.
By in large, however, hiring authorizations granted by OPM are more popular than those granted by Congress, according to the Federal Times.
The extension continues an ongoing initiative within the Biden Administration to attract and retain a young federal workforce. In November, OPM published an interim rule meant to assist agencies in recruiting and hiring recent college graduates.
