On May 11, 2010, President Obama issued a memorandum directing agencies to take action to improve the federal hiring process. The same day, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a memorandum outlining actions that agencies must take to implement related initiatives.

Four main objectives were outlined in the memos:

• making it easier for applicants to apply to federal jobs while increasing candidate quality;
• involving hiring managers and supervisors in the hiring process;
• improving the speed and quality of the hiring process; and
• improving manager and applicant satisfaction.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO), in coordination with a Hiring Reform Action Team composed of Component representatives, is leading the effort to streamline hiring across the Department. For specific information about all Homeland Security Hiring Reform efforts, please review:

•  Department of Homeland Security Hiring Reform Action Plan (PDF, 8 pages - 80 KB)

Learn more about Hiring Reform across Government:

• May 11, 2010: President's Memorandum, “Improving the Federal Recruitment and Hiring Process”
• May 11, 2010: OPM Memorandum, “Comprehensive Recruitment and Hiring Reform, Implementation of the President’s Memorandum”
• OPM Hiring Reform Website