# 2026-03242: OPM Eases Hiring Rules for College Students in Government

2026-03242, Hiring Authority for Post-Secondary Students, is a Federal Register rule from Personnel Management Office published 2026-02-19, effective 2026-03-23; deemed significant under Executive Order 12866 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03242
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-03242
- Title: Hiring Authority for Post-Secondary Students
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Personnel Management Office
- Citation: 91 FR 7803
- Published: 2026-02-19
- Effective: 2026-03-23
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: yes (FR_METADATA)
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 3206-AN86
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

OPM Eases Hiring Rules for College Students in Government

## Summary

Starting March 23, 2026, federal agencies can more easily hire certain post-secondary students for competitive jobs thanks to a new rule from the Office of Personnel Management. This change makes it simpler and more flexible to bring in qualified students at specific job levels, helping agencies tap fresh talent faster. If you’re a student or work with student hiring, get ready for smoother, quicker hiring with no extra cost signals right now.

## Abstract

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to amend its career and career-conditional employment regulations. The revision is necessary to implement section 1108 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, which requires OPM to issue regulations implementing hiring authorities that allow agencies to hire certain post-secondary students into positions at specified grades in the competitive service. The intended effect of the authority is to provide additional flexibility in hiring eligible and qualified individuals.

## Effects PRIA read

No economic effects identified for this document.

## Related documents

- [2026-19222](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19222): Employment in the Excepted Service, 2026-09-18
- [2026-18828](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18828): Shared Certificates and Pooled Hiring Actions, 2026-09-15
- [2026-18800](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18800): Reduction in Force; Correction, 2026-09-15
- [2026-16687](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16687): Differential Pay for Prescribed Wildland Fire Activities, 2026-08-14
- [2026-15650](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15650): Suitability Action Appeals, 2026-08-03
- [2026-15666](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15666): Reduction in Force Appeals, 2026-08-03

## Sources
- [2026-03242 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/19/2026-03242/hiring-authority-for-post-secondary-students)
- [2026-03242 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-19/pdf/2026-03242.pdf)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03242 (as of 2026-06-11).