Final rule · 2026-13154

Suitability and Fitness

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is amending the Federal Government personnel vetting adjudicative processes for determining suitability and taking suitability actions. The final rule will improve the efficiency, rigor, and timeliness by which OPM and agencies vet individuals for risk to the integrity and efficiency of the service and make clear that individuals who engage in serious misconduct while employed in Federal service are subject to the same suitability procedures and actions as applicants for employment. It also ensures that suitability determinations and actions are applied consistently with Merit System Principles.