Older vets get a break in federal hiring

In a proposed rule, OPM updates regulations so older veterans and non-citizens are now eligible for select federal positions.

By Jory Heckman
Federal News Radio

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) now will adhere to a ruling made by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) that will offer more leeway on the maximum age requirement for qualified veterans.

OPM wants to make changes to the federal regulations that govern competitive service hiring through a proposed rule in the Federal Register issued Thursday.

MSPB in Isabella v. Department of State, ruled State violated the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) because there was no evidence that a maximum entry age was necessary to fulfill the obligations of the available position.

As a result, OPM has adopted a policy that waives the maximum entry age requirement for qualified veterans applying for the job, unless the age restriction is essential to carrying out the position.

An appeal procedure has been put in place for applicants who want to appeal decisions made about their qualifications.

OPM also has revised its rules and regulations to let agencies hire non-citizens to competitive service positions when no qualified U.S. citizens have applied.

In addition, OPM is revising its operating manual in order to include white-collar positions that fall under the manual’s guidelines, even though these positions do not fall under the General Schedule (GS) system.

RELATED STORY:

MSPB: Screen workers’ abilities prior to training

Jory Heckman is an intern with Federal News Radio.

(Copyright 2011 by Federal News Radio. All Rights Reserved.)

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)State Department Foreign Service

    Foreign Service makes candidate assessment fully remote to broaden hiring pool

    Read more
    (Getty Images/iStockphoto/Kiyoshi Tanno)Washington DC/USA Mar 25 2019/Signboard of United States Department of Veterans Affairs(VA).The VA stands in front of Lafayette Square Park in the north of the White House.

    VA looks to cut 10,000 positions from health care workforce, but seeks bigger budget in 2025

    Read more