2026-22093·OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

Personnel Management in Agencies: Strategic Human Capital Management

Final RuleFinal Rule

Published: Oct 29, 2026
Effective: Nov 30, 2026
Citation: 91 FR 68013
Docket: Docket ID: OPM-2026-0368

Final rule.

Summary

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a final rule that updates how federal agencies plan, manage, and report on their workforce. The goal is to make human‑capital planning simpler and more consistent across the government, give agency chief human‑capital officers clearer authority, and modernize employee‑survey requirements so the federal workforce can meet current executive‑branch priorities for performance and effectiveness. The rule applies to all executive‑branch agencies and their employees. It changes existing personnel‑management regulations, requiring agencies to follow a streamlined set of planning and reporting steps and to rely more heavily on the guidance of their designated chief human‑capital officers. By updating survey practices, the regulation also aims to give employees a stronger voice in shaping workplace improvements. The rule was published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2026 (91 FR 68013) and becomes effective on November 30, 2026. OPM has already reviewed and responded to public comments submitted during the proposal stage, and the final rule now reflects those revisions. Agencies will need to adjust their internal policies and reporting systems to comply with the new requirements before the effective date, after which OPM will monitor implementation and may issue additional guidance as needed.

AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.

Official abstract

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to modernize the framework governing personnel management and strategic human capital management in Federal agencies. This rule amends the regulatory framework for personnel management in Federal agencies to streamline human capital planning and reporting requirements, strengthen the authority of agency Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCOs), update employee survey requirements, and align the regulatory framework with Executive branch priorities for a high- performing Federal workforce. OPM carefully considered all public comments received on the proposed rule and has made targeted revisions in response.