Federal Career Intern Program

This executive order establishes the Federal Career Intern Program to recruit and develop exceptional talent for federal public service careers. Career Interns are appointed to excepted service positions for up to two years (extendable to three) with formal training, and may receive competitive civil service status upon satisfactory completion. The Office of Personnel Management is authorized to develop merit-based procedures and oversee the program.

Federal Register Open PDF 65 FR 43211

Impact dates

Oct 4, 2000
OPM to develop merit-based procedures for recruitment, screening, placement, and career development
Oct 4, 2000
OPM to prescribe necessary regulations

Key directives

OPM shall develop merit-based procedures for recruitment, screening, placement, and continuing career development
OPM shall provide for equal employment opportunity and veterans' preference
Career Intern appointments limited to 2 years, extendable by 1 year with OPM concurrence
Career Interns to participate in formal training and job assignment program
OPM shall prescribe regulations to carry out the order
OPM shall provide oversight of the Program
Revocation of Executive Order 12596

Who is ordered

OPM Director · OPM

Timeline

Immediate

Revocation of Executive Order 12596 (1987 intern program)
Establishment of Federal Career Intern Program authority

Near term (90d)

OPM to develop merit-based recruitment, screening, placement and career development procedures
OPM to prescribe necessary regulations

Long term

Ongoing program oversight by OPM
Agency implementation of intern recruitment and training
Potential conversion of Career Interns to competitive civil service status

Risks & tensions

No explicit deadline stated for OPM action; 'shall develop' and 'shall prescribe' imply prompt action but timeline is vague
No rights to continued employment creates uncertainty for participants despite training investment
Potential tension between merit-based recruitment and veterans' preference requirements
Agency discretion in extension decisions could create inconsistent implementation
Judicial review waiver (Section 9) limits recourse for participants