# 2026-15654: OPM Streamlines Probation Firings: No More MSPB Drama?

2026-15654, Streamlining Probationary and Trial Period Appeals, is a Federal Register rule from Personnel Management Office published 2026-08-03, effective 2026-09-02; deemed significant under Executive Order 12866; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15654
- As of: 2026-08-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-15654
- Title: Streamlining Probationary and Trial Period Appeals
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Personnel Management Office
- Citation: 91 FR 49072
- Published: 2026-08-03
- Effective: 2026-09-02
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: yes (FR_METADATA)
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 3206-AO96
- Last updated: 2026-08-10

## In one line

OPM Streamlines Probation Firings: No More MSPB Drama?

## Summary

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to change the circumstances and procedures for adjudicating appeals from employees terminated during their probationary and trial periods and supervisors and managers who fail to complete their probationary periods. Executive order, "Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service," rendered the prior procedures for appealing such actions to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) inoperative. This final rule establishes a new, limited appeals process adjudicated by OPM. The final rule also makes conforming amendments.

## Effects PRIA read

- OPM Creates New Probationary Appeal Forum: benefit, medium. OPM establishes a new, limited appeals process for employees terminated during probationary or trial periods and for supervisors/managers who fail to complete their probationary periods. OPM will adjudicate these appeals (instead of the Merit Systems Protection Board) and issue written, publicly av…
- Appeals Limited To Specific Legal Grounds: mixed, medium. Under the new rule you can only appeal a probationary or trial-period termination to OPM if the appeal alleges discrimination based on partisan political reasons, marital status, or an agency's failure to follow procedures for terminations based on pre-appointment reasons. You may not attach Equal…
- Which Employees Are Covered or Excluded: cost, low. The rule covers probationary employees in the competitive service and a relatively small number of employees serving trial periods under 5 CFR part 307. Excepted service employees serving trial periods outside 5 CFR part 307 do not have appeal rights under this rule unless another statute, regulati…
- Rule Applies Only To Actions On/After Sept 2, 2026: cost, low. The new appeals process is effective September 2, 2026; terminations, assignments, noncertifications, or failures to certify/finalize that took effect before that date are not governed by this rule. If your action occurred before September 2, 2026, this rule does not create an appeal for you.
- OPM Will Publish Final Merits Decisions: benefit, low. OPM will issue written decisions and maintain a publicly accessible website containing final merits decisions issued under part 751 that address a party's claim on the merits, subject to legal limits on privacy and sensitive information. This is intended to promote transparency and consistency in h…

## 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
- [2026-15654 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/03/2026-15654/streamlining-probationary-and-trial-period-appeals)
- [2026-15654 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-03/pdf/2026-15654.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-15652, Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15652)
- [Next: 2026-15665, Reduction in Force](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15665)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15654 (as of 2026-08-10).