Hire Veterans Act

The "Hire Veterans Act" requires the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a five-year pilot program within one year of enactment. This program, developed in consultation with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Interior, and Agriculture, aims to recruit and refer veterans for supervisory and nonsupervisory positions within Federal land management agencies. These agencies include the Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation. OPM is tasked with publicizing the program and managing the application process for interested veterans. A key component of the pilot program involves developing and administering tests to assess veterans' strengths and abilities for various career fields, such as outdoor recreation, firefighting, ecology, and finance. OPM, in consultation with relevant Secretaries, will issue guidance for these tests and may waive recognized postsecondary credential requirements if deemed necessary. Federal land management agencies will administer these assessments and refer veterans to the official Federal employment website. Based on test results, agency heads have two primary options for participating veterans. If a veteran demonstrates the necessary strengths and abilities, the agency may offer a noncompetitive career-conditional appointment to a vacant position. If a veteran does not initially qualify, the agency must refer them to a training program designed to build required skills. After completing training, the veteran will be re-tested, and if they then demonstrate the necessary abilities, they may also receive a noncompetitive appointment. OPM will oversee and manage the employment of veterans within these agencies under the pilot program, which will terminate five years after its establishment.