OPM Extends Direct Hire Authority for STEM, Acquisition, Cyber Jobs

The federal government continues to take steps to beef up its technical workforce and fill critical technical occupations.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) extended direct hire authority for cybersecurity and acquisition positions as well as for workers in other scientific, technical, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations.

The government-wide direct hire authority was extended until December 31, 2028.  OPM previously authorized direct hire for such positions in 2018 and 2023.

This time the authority was modified to include criminal investigators with cybersecurity and IT skills.

The direct hire authority is needed when there is a severe shortage of workers or a critical hiring need in certain fields. It allows managers to speed up the hiring process and skip some of the required provisions of competitive service hiring.

Covered Jobs

The direct hire flexibility covers positions in general schedule (GS) classification and pay grade levels 11 through 15, which includes senior personnel. 

STEM jobs covered under the announcement include general engineer, civil engineer, data science, mathematical statistician, fishery biologist, economist, and actuary.

Cyber jobs include computer engineers, electronics engineers, criminal investigators, and IT cybersecurity specialists.

And OPM says it will keep watch over the program. 

“OPM may request information from agencies on their use of these direct hire authorities,” stated the memo. “OPM will periodically assess agency use of these authorities as well as the continued need for them and may modify or terminate them as appropriate.”

Hiring Efforts

This is part of a broader Biden Administration effort to fill the ranks of the government’s STEM workforce.

The administration is also using skills-based hiring, internships, and early career programs like the U.S. Digital Corps to attract tech talent.

And in July, the White House announced it hired more than 200 technologists through its National AI Talent Surge.