Modernization & Consolidation of Occupational Series

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memorandum announcing its plan to consolidate and update job series classifications. A series is a grouping of positions by type. These classifications are used to establish standards for grade levels and pay for various positions. This Phase One of OPM's "modernization" efform combines various job series with updated subcategories and standards. The memo emphasizes that consolidation does not automatically change any employee's grade, pay, or tenure, and that agencies must continue to comply with all statutory classification requirements, pay retention rules, and collective bargaining obligations. Agencies were given until May 11, 2026 to submit feedback and retention requests through a secure OPM portal, with final consolidation decisions expected in May 2026 and updated classification standards to be published through September 2027. OPM signaled that phases will address broader structural redesign to shift to a skills-based workforce framework, among other things.