# OPM Proposes Schedule G Regulations

The Office of Personnel Management proposed regulatory amendments for Schedule G in September 2026 after at least 25 federal employees had served in Schedule G political-appointee positions, including 22 at the Department of Veterans Affairs. The earliest identified appointment began in August 2025. OPM says an executive order and agency guidance provide the underlying authority; the proposed rule would make conforming regulatory amendments rather than establish that authority. Public comments are due November 17, 2026, 33 days from October 15. For procurement professionals, the reported appointments may be relevant to agency leadership, oversight, and decision-making, particularly at VA, but the signal identifies no direct contract or solicitation changes.

- Federal contractors working with VA or OPM may want to account for potential shifts in agency leadership and decision-making when planning stakeholder engagement and contract oversight.
- Interested organizations can submit comments on the proposed rule by November 17, 2026; the signal does not specify procurement-specific changes to comment on.
- The Partnership for Public Service cautions that 25 is the number of appointments it identified, not necessarily the total.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Policy
**Published:** October 14, 2026

### Government Entities
- Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

### Key Quotes
> The pending proposed rule would make conforming amendments to [the Code of Federal Regulations]; it does not establish the underlying authority for Schedule G.
> — Kiki Nyoh, OPM Press Secretary

> Twenty-five is what we can see, not necessarily what exists.
> — Chris Piper, Partnership for Public Service

### Sources
- [Trump quietly hired political appointees under a new job classification, good government group reports - Government Executive](https://www.govexec.com/management/2026/10/trump-hired-political-appointees-new-job-classification/416590) - GovExec.com