Federal Jobs for STARs Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Introduced
Summary
Removes routine college-degree barriers to federal hiring for skilled workers without a bachelor's degree. This bill would direct the Office of Personnel Management to limit when agencies can demand a degree, require alternative qualification rules, and create a dedicated hiring path on USAJOBS for STARs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Agencies can't require college degrees
If enacted, the bill would direct the OPM Director to prohibit agency heads from requiring a minimum educational attainment for a position unless the Director finds the degree is necessary because the job needs skills that can only be obtained through that degree. OPM would write rules that let applicants meet knowledge, skills, and abilities with alternative qualifications instead of a degree. OPM would also review any additions of degree requirements as part of hiring audits. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
New STAR hiring path on USAJOBS
If enacted, the bill would require OPM to set up a dedicated STAR hiring path on USAJOBS or any successor website. Executive agencies would be directed to mark job postings that fall inside that hiring path so STAR workers can filter and search for those positions. This would take effect upon enactment. The change would make jobs easier to find but would not change pay or benefits.
Who counts as a STAR worker
If enacted, the bill would define who counts as a STAR worker. A STAR would be someone in the labor force who does not have a bachelors or higher degree and who learned job skills through alternative routes like community college, apprenticeships, bootcamps, military service, partial college, other training, or on-the-job experience. The bill would also define employee to mean someone appointed to a civil service position and define executive agency to mean a department, agency, office, or establishment in the executive branch. These definitions would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7]
PA • R
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5]
VA • R
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]
MT • R
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 7/6/2026
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov