ExecutiveOrdersEO
EO 13832Executive OrderTrump 45 · R Quiet signal

Executive Order 13832

Enhancing Noncompetitive Civil Service Appointments of Military Spouses

This executive order directs federal agencies to actively recruit and hire military spouses using existing noncompetitive appointment authority. It requires OPM to promote this hiring authority, provide training, and collect annual data on military spouse hiring, while also exploring telework options and license portability to address employment barriers caused by frequent relocations.

Federal Register Open PDF 83 FR 22343

Impact dates

  1. First annual agency report due for FY2019 data (positions, applications, appointments under military spouse hiring authority)

  2. OPM posts website information and circulates to agency CHCOs about military spouse hiring authority

  3. OPM educates agencies and ensures HR personnel and hiring managers briefed on military spouse hiring authority

  4. OPM provides clarifying telework guidance to agencies

Key directives

  • Agencies shall indicate military spouse hiring authority in job opportunity announcements to the greatest extent possible
  • Agencies shall actively advertise and promote the military spouse hiring authority and solicit applications
  • OPM shall consider regulatory changes to 5 CFR 315.612 for cases with no local job openings
  • OPM shall periodically circulate notifications to agency CHCOs about the hiring authority
  • OPM shall post website information and circulate to CHCOs within 180 days
  • OPM shall educate agencies and brief HR/hiring managers within 180 days
  • OPM shall provide telework guidance within 180 days
  • Agencies shall ensure HR/hiring managers briefed on telework techniques
  • Annual agency reporting to OPM and Labor beginning FY2019 by December 31
  • Annual presidential reports on implementation with license portability recommendations

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO takes effect upon signing
  • agencies required to indicate military spouse hiring authority in job announcements when filling vacancies

Near term (90d)

  • OPM must post website information and circulate to agency CHCOs within 180 days
  • OPM must educate agencies and brief HR personnel/hiring managers within 180 days
  • OPM must provide clarifying telework guidance within 180 days

Long term

  • Annual agency reporting to OPM and Labor beginning FY2019 (by December 31 each year)
  • Annual presidential reports on implementation
  • Ongoing promotion of military spouse hiring authority
  • Potential 5 CFR 315.612 regulatory changes

Risks & tensions

  • No enforcement mechanism or penalties for non-compliance; 'to the greatest extent possible' and 'shall' language creates ambiguity about binding obligation
  • Annual reporting requirement begins FY2019 but EO signed mid-May 2018, creating compressed first-year implementation
  • License portability recommendations require coordination with Defense and Homeland Security but lack deadline
  • Subject to appropriations availability may limit OPM's capacity to execute education and training mandates
  • Regulatory change consideration (5 CFR 315.612) is discretionary ('shall consider') with no decision deadline
Executive Order 13832: Enhancing Noncompetitive Civil Service Appointments of Military Spouses · Executive Orders