White House Signs Executive Order Overhauling Federal Hiring Rules

The administration issued an executive order Monday directing federal agencies to move away from strict degree requirements for a broad set of civil service jobs, replacing them with skills-based assessments the White House says will widen the applicant pool.

Under the order, agencies have 18 months to rewrite job postings for positions where a four-year degree is not strictly necessary, emphasizing demonstrated competencies instead. Officials pointed to information technology, project management, and administrative roles as early candidates for the change.

A years-long shift

The move builds on pilot programs run at several departments over the past few years, which reported faster hiring and more diverse candidate slates when they screened for skills rather than credentials. Supporters argue the change opens federal careers to workers who gained experience through apprenticeships, military service, or community college.

Critics counter that assessments are only as good as their design, and warn that poorly built tests could simply move bias from one gatekeeper to another. The Office of Personnel Management said it will publish assessment standards and audit results annually.

The order does not affect positions with statutory licensing requirements, such as physicians or attorneys. Agencies from the IRS to the National Park Service are expected to begin updating listings this fall.