OPM Final Rule Ends 52-Week Time-in-Grade Requirement for Federal Promotions
Washington — A final rule by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) eliminating the time-in-grade requirement for federal promotions was filed for public inspection with the Federal Register on October 16, ahead of formal publication on October 19. The rule, FR Doc. 2026-21319 (Docket OPM-2026-0067), takes effect 90 days after publication.
Under the new rule, competitive-service employees promoted to GS-6 and above will no longer need to serve 52 weeks at the next lower grade (two grades lower in two-grade-interval series). The rule amends 5 CFR Parts 300, 315, 316, 352 and 410 and was adopted substantially as proposed on May 28; the 60-day comment period drew 75 comments, 41 of them supportive.
Only the waiting period is removed. Applicants must still meet OPM occupational qualification standards and any agency job-related requirements; the rule creates no entitlement to promotion and does not change within-grade pay increases or veterans' preference. Agencies may still set job-related prerequisites under their written merit promotion plans.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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