Feds ditch hiring rules because lawyers said so
Published Date: 7/31/2026
Rule
Summary
Starting July 31, 2026, the Office of Personnel Management is removing all mentions of the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures from federal hiring rules because a legal opinion said those guidelines aren’t allowed. This change affects federal agencies and how they handle hiring, but it won’t cost extra money. People can share their thoughts on this update until September 29, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
OPM drops UGESP as a hiring rule
Starting July 31, 2026, the Office of Personnel Management removes references to the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures (UGESP) from federal hiring rules. Federal agencies will no longer be required by OPM regulations to apply UGESP's adverse-impact and validation-study framework as a binding standard.
Core job-analysis and nondiscrimination stay
OPM keeps job-analysis requirements, a rational relationship test, professional development standards, and nondiscrimination language in place. The rule does not change agency obligations under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, veterans' preference laws, or other Federal laws.
Agencies must update materials, minimal cost
OPM expects agencies may need to review and update internal policy documents, delegated examining materials, category-rating procedures, or training materials to remove outdated references to UGESP. OPM states it does not expect this review to impose significant costs.
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