H.R. 9596: Federal Jobs for STARs Act of 2026

This bill would change how the federal government hires people for civilian jobs in executive agencies.

What the bill does

• It creates the term STAR, meaning a person who is working or available for work, does not have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and has gained job skills through nontraditional routes such as:
  • community college
  • apprenticeships
  • bootcamps
  • military service
  • partial college completion
  • other training programs
  • on-the-job experience
• It would generally prevent federal agencies from requiring a minimum level of formal education for a job unless the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) determines that a specific degree is truly necessary for that position.
• OPM would have to issue rules explaining how agencies can use alternative qualifications, such as experience or training, instead of a degree requirement.
• OPM would also review whether agencies add educational requirements when it audits hiring actions.
• The government would need to create a dedicated hiring path on USAJOBS (or a successor site) for jobs that STAR workers can apply to, and agencies would have to mark those jobs so applicants can find them more easily.

Training and education study

The bill would also require OPM, the Office of Management and Budget, and any other relevant agency to study whether the government could create programs to help STAR employees get more training or education while working, such as:

• fellowships
• scholarships
• apprenticeships
• tuition assistance

They would have to report their findings to Congress within 180 days after the law takes effect.

Overall effect

In practical terms, the bill would make it harder for federal agencies to use a college degree as a default hiring filter and would push the government to consider work experience, training, and other nondegree paths more directly in federal hiring.

Relevant Companies

None found