Ensuring Consistent & Rigorous Standards for the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Programs

On June 25, 2026, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a final regulation on Candidate Development Programs for Senior Executive Service (SES) hiring. These programs are structured pipelines for developing skills of GS-14 and GS-15 employees for SES positions. Successful completion of the program and approval by a Qualifications Review Board (QRB) would make a federal employee eligible for hiring into an SES position without competition. The Rule makes a number of changes to the training program, including by extending training hours and requiring candidates to complete 180-day asssignments at an executive-level position different from their own. OPM maintains significant control. For agency programs, agencies must use OPM-developed standardized templates for program policies and evaluations, and agencies must seek OPM re-approval of their programs on a triennial basis. Additionally the Rule gives OPM the authority to create its own program, which could create a corps of SES-eligible employees that had been recruited and trained by OPM itself. In the notice of final rulemaking, OPM rejected concerns that the Candidate Development Programs would give the administration the ability to screen candidates for political loyalty. However, candidates are assessed on somewhat subjective criteria, including "demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people," as well as more objective criteria.