Frequently Asked Questions Advanced Search

Refine by Topic

• Assessment Policy
• Benefits for LGBT Federal Employees and Annuitants
• Classification
• Combined Federal Campaign
• Contracting and Acquisition
• Cybersecurity Information
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Employee Relations
• Employment
• Furlough
• Insurance
• Investigations
• Open Data
• Open Government
• Pandemic
• Pay & Leave
• Performance Management
• Personnel Documentation
• Policy on Political Appointees
• Qualifications
• Retirement
• Senior Executive Service
• Suitability Executive Agent
• Telework
• Thrift Savings Program (TSP)
• Training
• USAJOBS
• Veterans
• Work Life
• Workforce Information

• Does OPM’s pre-hiring review apply to a current political appointee who held a career Federal job in the past and is eligible for reinstatement?
  It depends.  OPM will not conduct a pre-hiring review if an agency wants to non-competitively select a current or former political appointee for reinstatement to a Federal job at the same or lower grade...
• Is this the first time OPM has put a policy in place covering the hiring of current or former political appointees for career civil service positions?
  No.  It has been OPM policy since the Carter Administration and under every President since to ensure that politics play no role when agencies hire political appointees for career Federal jobs.  In the past,...
• Does OPM’s policy apply to a former political appointee who is a current career Federal employee and who applies for another Federal job?
  No.  For example, a person who was a political appointee in 2015 and was hired for a career Federal job in 2016, with OPM approval, can apply for and be selected for...
• How long will it take OPM to complete its pre-hiring review?
   OPM will complete its review and notify the agency of our decision within 15 business days from the date we receive all of the information needed from the agency. 
• How will OPM determine the five-year period for former political appointees?
  We determine this period by looking back five years from the closing date of the vacancy announcement.  If an applicant for a career Federal job held a political appointment covered by OPM’s policy during...
• Why did OPM revise its policy in this way?
  One of OPM’s most important roles by law is to uphold the merit system principles and help agencies conduct fair and open competition for Federal jobs in order to comply with applicable civil...
• What will OPM look for during its pre-hiring review?
  OPM’s objective is to safeguard fair and open competition and protect against political influence in the hiring for career Federal jobs. With this in mind, the two most common reasons for OPM...
• Will OPM conduct a pre-hiring review when an agency wants to select a current or former political appointee for a temporary or term position?
  No.  We will not review temporary or term appointments.  However, OPM will conduct pre-hiring reviews for proposed selections to time-limited appointments that may lead to permanent positions.
• Will OPM review proposed hiring of non-competitive appointments under 5 CFR 315, subpart F?
  Yes.  To comply with the reporting requirements of the Transitions Act, OPM will now review non-competitive appointments to the Federal civil service under certain conditions (e.g. the appointment of 30 percent or more...