Executive Order

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Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service

AI Summary: This policy document is an Executive Order that establishes a new Civil Service Rule XI governing probationary and trial periods for federal employees. The regulation fundamentally changes how federal agencies evaluate and finalize the appointments of new employees during their initial probationary period. Under the new rule, agencies must affirmatively determine that an employee's continued employment would benefit the federal service before finalizing their appointment. The rule applies to employees in the competitive service and excepted service (with exceptions for the Senior Executive Service), and requires agencies to evaluate an employee's performance, conduct, alignment with organizational goals, and potential contribution to the efficiency of service. Specifically, within 30 days prior to the end of the probationary period, agencies must certify in writing that an employee's continued employment advances the public interest, or the employee will be automatically separated. The rule also provides guidelines for crediting prior service, computing probationary periods for different types of employees, and establishes a process for agency heads to review and make determinations about employees' continued employment. The order supersedes existing regulations that limited agencies' ability to terminate probationary employees and aims to ensure a more rigorous assessment of new federal workers.