The Biden administration has quietly revised hiring practices for federal civil service positions, effectively removing veterans’ preference from the decision-making process. The change, announced in a memorandum from the Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service (DCPAS), alters a decades-old policy designed to prioritize veterans in federal employment.
Since the 1944 Veterans Act, disabled veterans and those who served during specific periods or campaigns have received preference in hiring and retention for civil service jobs. However, the updated rules place veterans on equal footing with other qualified candidates, a shift critics argue undermines the intent of the original law.
The DCPAS memo highlights expanded Direct Hire Authority (DHA) for roles in STEM, cybersecurity, acquisitions, and other critical areas. This authority allows federal agencies to bypass competitive hiring procedures, including veterans’ preference, to quickly fill positions deemed essential to government operations.
“This isn’t about efficiency; it’s about pushing veterans aside for a new workforce,” said an Air Force insider. The source accused the administration of prioritizing ideological alignment over merit, adding, “This move is a backdoor way to expand the DEI agenda.”
Supporters of the change argue it addresses critical talent shortages in key federal roles, allowing agencies to act quickly in recruiting top candidates. But veterans’ advocates see it as an erosion of long-held benefits designed to honor their service.
The updated policies also extend hiring flexibilities to new areas, including criminal investigation and data science positions, while veterans’ groups warn of long-term implications for those transitioning to civilian employment.
Critics say the administration is weaponizing hiring rules to reshape the federal workforce, potentially at the expense of service members who earned their preference through sacrifice. The controversy over these changes is likely to intensify as veterans and their supporters demand accountability.
