161 
(1) CONTRACT.—A sponsoring agency shall 
enter into a contract with a PSC member in accord-
ance with paragraph (2). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A contract entered into 
under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) a requirement that the PSC member 
be enrolled full-time as a student at a PSC 
host; 
(B) any conditions imposed by the spon-
soring agency on the scholarship, including— 
(i) whether the PSC member must 
complete a specific academic program, 
major, certificate, or coursework relevant 
to the needs of the sponsoring agency; and 
(ii) the consequences if the PSC mem-
ber does not comply with the terms and 
conditions of the scholarship; 
(C) any obligations imposed by the spon-
soring agency on the PSC member to partici-
pate in structured academic and experiential 
leadership 
training, 
a 
community 
service 
project, or an internship with a Federal, State, 
local, or Tribal entity; 
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(D) a requirement that the PSC member 
serve in the civil service for a 4-year period 
upon— 
(i) completion of requirements estab-
lished by the sponsoring agency; and 
(ii) graduation from the PSC host; 
and 
(E) any other terms or conditions as deter-
mined by the sponsoring agency. 
(f) RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES OF SPON-
SORING AGENCIES.— 
(1) SELECTION
OF
SCHOLARSHIP
RECIPI-
ENTS.—A sponsoring agency shall interview and se-
lect scholarship recipients in accordance with proce-
dures established by the Executive Director. 
(2) AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP.— 
(A) MINIMUM.—The annual amount of a 
scholarship offered by a sponsoring agency may 
not be less than the maximum amount of a 
Federal Pell Grant under section 401 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1070a) that a student eligible for a Federal Pell 
Grant may receive in the aggregate (without re-
gard to whether the funds are provided through 
discretionary or mandatory appropriations), for 
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the award year for which the PSC scholarship 
is offered. 
(B) RELATION TO ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER 
FEDERAL
STUDENT
ASSISTANCE.—The eligi-
bility of an individual for Federal student as-
sistance provided under title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et 
seq.) shall not be affected by receipt of a PSC 
scholarship. 
(C) OTHER
BENEFITS.—Other benefits 
that may be accrued, such as pay for intern-
ships or travel allowances, shall not count to-
ward the minimum amount of the scholarship 
required under subparagraph (A). 
(3) COORDINATION OF INTERNSHIP OPPORTU-
NITIES.—A sponsoring agency shall coordinate in-
ternship opportunities for a PSC member during the 
term of the scholarship of the PSC member. 
(4) SECURITY
CLEARANCES.—A sponsoring 
agency shall coordinate, sponsor, and manage the 
process for a PSC member to obtain any necessary 
security clearances. 
(g) PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYMENT.— 
(1) NONCOMPETITIVE APPOINTMENTS FOR IN-
TERNSHIPS.—An covered agency may noncompeti-
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tively appoint, for temporary employment, a PSC 
member for the purpose of completing an internship. 
(2) 
OTHER
NONCOMPETITIVE
APPOINT-
MENTS.—A sponsoring agency may noncompetitively 
appoint to the competitive service, for other than 
temporary employment, a PSC member who has— 
(A) satisfactorily completed the require-
ments of the PSC scholarship; and 
(B) graduated from the PSC host. 
(3) SERVICE COMMITMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If a sponsoring agency 
makes an offer of employment to a PSC mem-
ber sponsored by the sponsoring agency after 
the PSC member satisfactorily completes the 
requirements of a PSC scholarship and grad-
uates from a PSC host, the PSC member shall 
accept the offer. 
(B) NO OFFER BY SPONSORING AGENCY.— 
If a sponsoring agency does not make an offer 
of employment to a PSC member described in 
subparagraph (A), the PSC member— 
(i) shall be eligible for noncompetitive 
appointment to the competitive service by 
a covered agency during the 3-year period 
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beginning on the date on which the PSC 
member graduated from the PSC host; and 
(ii) may fulfill the service commitment 
of the PSC member described in subsection 
(e)(2)(D) through employment with any 
covered agency. 
(h) FAILURE TO COMPLETE SCHOLARSHIP RE-
QUIREMENTS.— 
(1) LIABILITY FOR RESTITUTION IN CASE OF 
NONCOMPLETION
OR
DECLINATION
OF
EMPLOY-
MENT.—A PSC member who does not complete the 
required course of instruction, fails to graduate in 
accordance with the terms of the Public Service 
Corps scholarship, or fails to complete the 4-year 
service 
commitment 
described 
in 
subsection 
(e)(2)(D) shall, subject to paragraph (2) of this sub-
section, repay the amount of the scholarship to the 
sponsoring agency. 
(2) WAIVER OF LIABILITY.—The Executive Di-
rector may, in extraordinary circumstances, waive 
some or all of the liability for the 4-year service 
commitment under subsection (d)(4)(B) or the re-
quirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection. 
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(i) REGULATIONS.—The Director and the Executive 
Director shall jointly issue any regulations necessary to 
carry out this section. 
(j) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 363. PUBLIC SERVICE ACADEMY GRANTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) ENROLLMENT OF NEEDY STUDENTS.—The 
term ‘‘enrollment of needy students’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 312(d) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(d)). 
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(3) PUBLIC SERVICE.—The term ‘‘public serv-
ice’’ means civilian employment in the Federal Gov-
ernment or a State, local, or Tribal government in 
the United States. 
(4) PUBLIC
SERVICE
ACADEMY.—The term 
‘‘public service academy’’ means a leadership devel-
opment program at an institution of higher edu-
cation that is designed to prepare students for public 
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service through curricular, extracurricular, experien-
tial learning, and internship programs. 
(5) PUBLIC
SERVICE
ACADEMY
COST.—The 
term ‘‘public service academy cost’’ means the cost 
of developing and administering a public service 
academy at an institution of higher education. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
(b) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish and administer a program to issue grants to not 
more than 50 institutions of higher education, on a com-
petitive basis, to support the development of public service 
academies— 
(1) to attract postsecondary students to careers 
in public service; 
(2) to promote public service as a career path 
for younger Americans; 
(3) to prepare future generations with skills 
needed in all levels of public service; and 
(4) to support the Federal Government and 
State, local, and Tribal governments in their efforts 
to attract exceptional talent from the Nation’s re-
cent graduates. 
(c) GRANT APPLICATION.—An institution of higher 
education seeking a grant under this section shall submit 
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an application to the Secretary at such time, in such man-
ner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require. Such application shall include— 
(1) a plan for the development of a public serv-
ice academy, including an account of existing cur-
ricular, extracurricular, experiential learning, and in-
ternship programs at the institution of higher edu-
cation that would be included in the public service 
academy, as well as new curricular, extracurricular, 
experiential learning, and internship programs that 
would be established with grant funds; 
(2) an assessment of anticipated costs for the 
public service academy in each of the first 4 years 
of operation, including the potential sources of non- 
Federal funds to be used for the public service acad-
emy; and 
(3) information regarding the enrollment of 
needy students at the institution of higher edu-
cation. 
(d) SELECTION BY COMPETITIVE PROCESS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall issue 
grants under this section pursuant to a competitive 
process and shall establish rules for evaluating appli-
cants and awarding grants under this section. 
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(2) RESERVATION OF FUNDS FOR CERTAIN IN-
STITUTIONS.—Of the funds made available for 
grants under this section, the Secretary shall reserve 
not less than 50 percent for grants to institutions of 
higher education that have enrollments of needy stu-
dents. 
(3) EQUITABLE GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF 
GRANTS.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary 
shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution of 
grants awarded under this section. 
(e) 
DURATION
AND
AMOUNT
OF
FEDERAL 
GRANTS.— 
(1) DURATION.—A grant under this section 
shall be awarded for a period of not more than 4 
years. 
(2) CERTAIN
COSTS
EXCLUDED.—A grant 
under this section shall not include funds for the 
cost of any curricular, extracurricular, experiential 
learning, and internship programs maintained or 
sponsored by the institution of higher education at 
the time an application for a grant under this sec-
tion is made. 
(3) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The amount of the 
grant may not exceed— 
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(A) 75 percent of the public service acad-
emy cost in the first year; and 
(B) 50 percent of the public service acad-
emy cost in each of the second, third, and 
fourth years. 
(f) PERMISSIBLE USES.—An institution of higher 
education receiving a grant under this section may use 
funds from the grant— 
(1) to develop, expand, and modify curricula to 
prepare students for careers in public service, includ-
ing experiential learning components of curricula; 
(2) to create and administer classroom activi-
ties, thesis projects, individual or team projects, in-
ternships, degree or certificate programs, or commu-
nity service activities related to promoting public 
service and preparing students for careers in public 
service; 
(3) to collaborate with government entities, 
nonprofit organizations, or consortia of such entities 
and organizations to provide students with public 
service-related work experiences and introduce stu-
dents to potential careers upon their graduation; 
(4) to provide scholarships for students who 
participate in the public service academy; and 
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(5) to evaluate the effectiveness of the public 
service academy as it relates to leading participants 
into careers with local, State, or Federal Govern-
ment agencies. 
(g) ANNUAL GRANTEE REPORT.—A recipient of a 
grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary on 
an annual basis a comprehensive report on the public serv-
ice academy supported by the grant and the use of the 
grant funds to support the academy. The Secretary shall 
provide guidance on what information shall be included 
in the report. 
(h) 
CONGRESSIONAL
REPORTS.—The 
Secretary 
shall— 
(1) not later than 12 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and every 12 months 
thereafter, submit to Congress a report on the re-
sults or outcomes of all public service academies pro-
vided grants under this section and the potential 
need for additional funding for such academies; and 
(2) in the fourth annual report submitted under 
paragraph (1), include a recommendation to Con-
gress about whether the grant program under this 
section should receive continued funding. 
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(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section. 
SEC. 364. PUBLIC SERVICE CADET PROGRAM AT MILITARY 
SERVICE ACADEMIES. 
(a) PLAN FOR PUBLIC SERVICE CADET PROGRAM.— 
The Superintendent of each military service academy, in 
consultation with the Secretaries of the military depart-
ments and the Director of the Office of Personnel Manage-
ment, shall develop a plan to create a program for the 
instruction of and preparation for public service of certain 
cadets at such service academy, in accordance with sub-
section (b). 
(b) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The plan described in 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) provide for the appointment of cadets to a 
public service cadet program representing at least 5 
percent of the total incoming class at each academy, 
with no corresponding decline in enrollment of mili-
tary cadets or midshipmen; 
(2) require that each graduate of the public 
service cadet program accept an appointment to the 
Federal civil service and commit to serve in the Fed-
eral civil service for a period of 5 years after such 
appointment; 
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(3) provide a process for any graduate who does 
not serve in a position in the Federal civil service or 
who resigns from a position in the Federal civil serv-
ice before the expiration of the 5-year service com-
mitment to pay back the cost of the graduate’s edu-
cation at the military service academy, consistent 
with requirements of military cadets or midshipmen, 
along with a process for the Superintendent to issue 
a waiver to all or part of such requirement; 
(4) specify the training, curricular, and other 
requirements for public service cadets; 
(5) address the applicability of the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice or alternative disciplinary 
procedures to public service cadets; and 
(6) provide a detailed plan for implementing the 
public service cadet program, including the amount 
of time needed to implement the plan. 
(c) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than one 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Su-
perintendent of each military service academy shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives the plan developed by such 
Superintendent under this section. 
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SEC. 365. COMPENSATION FOR FEDERAL INTERNS. 
(a) FEDERAL AGENCY INTERNS.—Section 3111 of 
title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting before the 
semicolon the following: ‘‘, but only insofar as the 
institution provides academic credit to the student 
for the voluntary service’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(f) An agency may provide reimbursement for trans-
portation and subsistence expenses for any student who 
provides voluntary service under subsection (b), pursuant 
to regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Manage-
ment.’’. 
(b) LEGISLATIVE BRANCH INTERNS.—Part 3 of title 
IV of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (2 
U.S.C. 4101) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 432. INTERNS IN THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) INTERN.—The term ‘intern’ means, with 
respect to a legislative branch office, an individual 
who serves in the legislative branch office for not 
more than 120 days in a 12-month period and whose 
service is primarily for the educational experience of 
the individual. 
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‘‘(2) LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OFFICE.—The term 
‘legislative branch office’ means each of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) An employing office, as defined in 
section 101 of the Congressional Accountability 
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301). 
‘‘(B) The Government Accountability Of-
fice. 
‘‘(C) The Government Publishing Office. 
‘‘(b) IN GENERAL.—The head of each legislative 
branch office shall pay an intern who serves in the legisla-
tive branch office not less than the minimum wage rate 
established under section 6 of the Fair Labor Standards 
Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206), unless— 
‘‘(1) the intern is a student who is participating 
in a program established by the institution at which 
the intern is enrolled; and 
‘‘(2) the institution provides academic credit to 
the student for the voluntary service of the intern. 
‘‘(3) 
BENEFIT
EXCLUSION.—Interns 
com-
pensated under this subsection shall be excluded 
from the operation of the following provisions of title 
5, United States Code: 
‘‘(A) Chapter 84 (relating to the Federal 
Employees Retirement System). 
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‘‘(B) Chapter 87 (relating to life insur-
ance). 
‘‘(C) Chapter 89 (relating to health insur-
ance). 
‘‘(c) SENATE ALLOWANCE.—There is established for 
the Senate an allowance which shall be available for the 
compensation of interns who serve in the offices of Sen-
ators during a calendar year.’’. 
(c) FEDERAL JUDICIARY INTERNS.— 
(1) COMPENSATION.—The Director of the Ad-
ministrative Office of the United States Courts shall 
issue regulations to provide for the compensation of 
all interns serving in the judicial branch. 
(2) INTERN DEFINED.—In this subsection, the 
term ‘‘intern’’ means an individual— 
(A) who serves in a court of the United 
States or the Administrative Office of the 
United States Courts for not more than 120 
days during a 12-month period; and 
(B) whose service is primarily for the edu-
cational experience of the individual. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section and the amendments 
made by this section. 
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SEC. 366. ESTABLISHMENT OF PATHWAYS PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ means— 
(A) an Executive agency, as defined in sec-
tion 105 of title 5, United States Code; and 
(B) the Government Publishing Office. 
(2) CIVIL SERVICE.—The term ‘‘civil service’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 2101 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
(3) COMPETITIVE SERVICE.—The term ‘‘com-
petitive service’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 2102 of title 5, United States Code. 
(4) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office. 
(5) EXCEPTED SERVICE.—The term ‘‘excepted 
service’’ has the meaning given the term in section 
2103 of title 5, United States Code. 
(6) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the Of-
fice of Personnel Management. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish 
the Pathways Program. 
(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Pathways 
Program is to promote employment opportunities in 
the Federal workforce for students and recent grad-
uates by excepting participants in the Program from 
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competitive service hiring requirements for certain 
positions in the civil service. 
(3) SUB-PROGRAMS.—The Pathways Program 
shall consist of an Internship Program and a Recent 
Graduates Program. 
(c) REGULATIONS.—The Director shall issue regula-
tions for the Pathways Program, which shall include— 
(1) a description of the positions that agencies 
may fill through the Pathways Program because 
conditions of good administration necessitate except-
ing those positions from the competitive hiring rules; 
(2) rules governing whether, to what extent, 
and in what manner agencies must provide public 
notice of job opportunities in the Pathways Pro-
gram; 
(3) a description of opportunities for career de-
velopment, training, and mentorship for participants 
in the Pathways Program; 
(4) requirements that managers assess the per-
formance of participants in the Pathways Program 
to identify the individuals who should be considered 
for conversion to career civil service positions; 
(5) a description of oversight by the Office of 
the use of the Pathways Program by agencies to en-
sure that— 
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(A) the Pathways Program serves as a 
supplement to, and not a substitute for, the 
competitive hiring process; and 
(B) agencies are using the Pathways Pro-
gram in order to develop talent for careers in 
the civil service; 
(6) a description of plans by the Office to evalu-
ate— 
(A) the effectiveness of agencies in recruit-
ing and retaining talent using the Pathways 
Program; and 
(B) the satisfaction of the students and 
graduates participating in the Pathways Pro-
gram; and 
(7) standard naming conventions across agen-
cies, so that students and recent graduates can 
clearly understand and compare the available career 
pathway opportunities in the Federal Government. 
(d) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Internship Program 
shall provide a student in high school, a community 
college, a 4-year institution of higher education, a 
trade school, a career or technical education pro-
gram, or another qualifying educational institution 
or program, as determined by the Director, with 
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paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore 
Federal careers while still in school. 
(2) PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES.—The following 
principles and policies shall govern the Internship 
Program: 
(A) A participant in the Internship Pro-
gram shall be a student enrolled, or accepted 
for enrollment, in a qualifying educational insti-
tutions or program, as determined by the Direc-
tor. 
(B) Subject to such exceptions as may be 
provided by regulation, an agency shall provide 
an intern with meaningful developmental work 
and set clear expectations regarding the work 
experience of the intern. 
(C) A student employed by a third-party 
internship provider but placed in an agency 
may, to the extent permitted by regulation, be 
treated as a participant in the Internship Pro-
gram. 
(D) An agency shall participate in the In-
ternship Program for the primary purpose of 
developing and evaluating entry-level talent for 
future permanent employment with the Federal 
Government. 
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(e) RECENT GRADUATES PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Recent Graduates Pro-
gram shall provide an individual who has recently 
graduated from a qualifying educational institution 
or program with developmental experiences in the 
Federal Government intended to promote a possible 
career in the civil service. 
(2) PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES.—The following 
principles and policies shall govern the Recent Grad-
uates Program: 
(A)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), a 
participant in the Recent Graduates Program 
shall have obtained a qualifying degree, or com-
pleted a qualifying career or technical education 
program, as determined by the Director, during 
the 3-year period preceding application to the 
Recent Graduates Program. 
(ii) In the case of a veteran who, due to 
the military service obligation of the veteran, 
would be precluded from participating in the 
Recent Graduates Program because the veteran 
is unable to apply during the 3-year period re-
quired under clause (i), that clause shall be ap-
plied by substituting ‘‘6-year period’’ for ‘‘3- 
year period’’. 
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(B) Responsibilities assigned to a recent 
graduate shall be consistent with— 
(i) 
the 
qualifications, 
educational 
background, and career interests of the 
graduate; 
(ii) the purpose of the Recent Grad-
uates Program; and 
(iii) the needs of agencies. 
(f) APPOINTMENT AND CONVERSION.—The following 
requirements shall apply to an appointment in the Path-
ways Program: 
(1) An appointment to the Pathways Program 
shall be under the excepted service. 
(2) An appointment to the Recent Graduates 
Program may not exceed 2 years, unless extended by 
the employing agency for a period of not more than 
120 days. 
(3) An appointment to the Pathways Program 
shall not confer any right to further Federal employ-
ment in the competitive service or the excepted serv-
ice upon the expiration of the appointment, except 
that an agency— 
(A) may convert a participant noncompeti-
tively to a term, career, or career-conditional 
appointment after the participant satisfies re-
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quirements to be established by the Director; 
and 
(B) may noncompetitively convert a partic-
ipant who was initially converted to a term ap-
pointment under this section to a career or ca-
reer-conditional appointment before the term 
appointment expires. 
(g) DEFINITION
OF FEDERAL INTERNSHIP PRO-
GRAM.—Section 3111a(c)(1) of title 5, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), 
and (D) as subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respec-
tively; and 
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(B) the Internship Program established 
under section 366(d) of the Inspired to Serve 
Act of 2025;’’. 
SEC. 367. ENHANCED HIRING FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRAD-
UATES AND POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS. 
(a) RECENT GRADUATE HIRING AUTHORITY.—Sec-
tion 3115(e) of title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking all that follows 
‘‘exceed’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘exceed the 
greater of— 
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‘‘(A) the number equal to 15 percent of 
the number of individuals that the agency head 
appointed during the previous fiscal year to per-
manent employment; or 
‘‘(B) the number equal to 1 percent of the 
average number of permanent employees in the 
agency during the previous fiscal year.’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(2) TEMPORARY CAP INCREASE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Under a regulation 
prescribed under subsection (f), the Director 
shall increase the limit on the number of indi-
viduals that may be appointed by the head of 
an agency under paragraph (1) of this sub-
section during a fiscal year as necessary to 
meet the target under section 368 of the In-
spired to Serve Act of 2025 (relating to aggre-
gate number of hires of recent college graduates 
and post-secondary students). 
‘‘(B) DURATION.—The increased limit 
under subparagraph (A) shall terminate not 
later than September 30, 2034.’’. 
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(b) POST-SECONDARY STUDENT HIRING AUTHOR-
ITY.—Section 3116 of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking all that 
follows ‘‘exceed’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘exceed the greater of— 
‘‘(A) the number equal to 15 percent of 
the number of individuals that the agency head 
appointed during the previous fiscal year to per-
manent employment; or 
‘‘(B) the number equal to 1 percent of the 
average number of permanent employees in the 
agency during the previous fiscal year.’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) TEMPORARY CAP INCREASE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Under a regulation 
prescribed under subsection (g), the Director 
shall increase the limit on the number of indi-
viduals that may be appointed by a head of an 
agency under paragraph (1) of this subsection 
during a fiscal year as necessary to meet the 
target under section 368 of the Inspired to 
Serve Act of 2025 (relating to aggregate num-
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186 
ber of hires of recent college graduates and 
post-secondary students). 
‘‘(B) DURATION.—The increased limit 
under subparagraph (A) shall terminate not 
later than September 30, 2031.’’; and 
(2) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ‘‘640’’ and 
inserting ‘‘400’’. 
SEC. 368. AGGREGATE NUMBER OF HIRES OF RECENT COL-
LEGE GRADUATES AND POST-SECONDARY 
STUDENTS. 
(a) TARGETS.—The Director of the Office of Per-
sonnel Management shall ensure that the aggregate num-
ber of applicants hired into term or permanent positions 
in the competitive service at Federal agencies under sec-
tion 366 of this Act (relating to the Pathways Program), 
section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2017 (10 U.S.C. note prec. 1580; Public 
Law 114–238), and sections 3115 and 3116 of title 5, 
United States Code (as amended by section 367 of this 
Act)— 
(1) by September 30, 2029, is not less than 
30,000; and 
(2) by September 30, 2034, is not less than 
50,000. 
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(b) PRO RATA SHARE DETERMINATION.—The Direc-
tor shall determine the pro rata share, for each fiscal year, 
of the obligation of each Federal agency to meet the tar-
gets under subsection (a), based on the number of posi-
tions in the competitive service at the agency as compared 
with the total number of positions in the competitive serv-
ice across all agencies. 
(c) SHORTFALL DETERMINATION.—Each fiscal year, 
the Director shall determine the progress of each Federal 
agency in achieving the targets under subsection (a) by 
subtracting the number of applicants hired into term or 
permanent positions in the competitive service at the agen-
cy during the preceding fiscal year under the provisions 
of law set forth in subsection (a) from the pro rata share 
of the agency determined under subsection (b). 
SEC. 369. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO HIRE RECENT 
COLLEGE 
GRADUATES 
AND 
POST-SEC-
ONDARY STUDENTS WITH CRITICAL SKILLS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. 
(2) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘intern-
ship program’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 3111a(c)(1) of title 5, United States Code, 
as amended by section 366(g) of this Act. 
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(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.— 
(1) PURPOSE.—The Director shall, pursuant to 
section 4703 of title 5, United States Code, carry 
out a demonstration project described in paragraph 
(2) of this subsection for the purpose of— 
(A) assessing the sufficiency of hiring au-
thorities to meet the hiring needs of Executive 
agencies in positions that require critical skills; 
and 
(B) determining whether changes are need-
ed in methods of establishing qualification re-
quirements for, recruitment for, and appoint-
ment to, positions described in subparagraph 
(A). 
(2) PROJECT
DESCRIBED.—Under the dem-
onstration project under paragraph (1), an Execu-
tive agency shall appoint— 
(A) students to internship programs for 
the purpose of acquiring critical skills that ad-
dress the needs of the Executive agency; or 
(B) recent graduates to full-time positions 
in the Executive agency that require critical 
skills described in subparagraph (A). 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the demonstration project under 
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this section terminates, the Director shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the project, including the assessment and 
determination of the Director under subsection (b)(1). 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the demonstration project under 
this section. 
SEC. 370. NONCOMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL 
DEVELOPMENTAL POSITIONS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMPETITIVE SERVICE.—The term ‘‘com-
petitive service’’ has the meaning given the term in 
section 2102 of title 5, United States Code. 
(2) 
FELLOWSHIP.—The 
term 
‘‘fellowship’’ 
means a short-term employment opportunity (other 
than a post-fellowship service requirement), of not 
more than 2 years in length, that is intended to pro-
vide the recipient with work experience with an Ex-
ecutive agency or a military department that pre-
pares the recipient for permanent employment with 
an Executive agency or a military department. 
(3) INTERNSHIP.—The term ‘‘internship’’ has 
the meaning given the term ‘‘internship program’’ in 
section 3111a of title 5, United States Code. 
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(4) SCHOLARSHIP.—The term ‘‘scholarship’’ 
means— 
(A) financial support paid by an Executive 
agency or a military department towards an in-
dividual’s cost of attendance at an institution of 
higher education that is authorized to partici-
pate in a Federal student aid program under 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) in a course of study 
leading to a credential in a critical skill or an-
other program that requires the student to 
demonstrate an interest in or agreement to pur-
sue a career in public service; or 
(B) financial support paid by an Executive 
agency towards an individual’s cost of procuring 
private instruction in a critical skill. 
(5) THIRD-PARTY
INTERNSHIP
OR
FELLOW-
SHIP.—The term ‘‘third-party internship or fellow-
ship’’ means an internship or a fellowship in the 
Federal Government that is facilitated and organized 
through a nongovernmental, third-party organization 
that has a formal arrangement with 1 or more Exec-
utive agencies, or with the legislative branch, to pro-
vide such internships or fellowships. 
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(b) APPOINTMENT IN COMPETITIVE SERVICE.—The 
head of any Executive agency or military department may 
appoint in the competitive service any individual who has 
been certified by the Office of Personnel Management, 
within the 12-month period preceding the appointment, as 
having successfully completed any internship, scholarship, 
or fellowship program, or a third-party internship or fel-
lowship. 
(c) DOCUMENTATION.—The Director of the Office of 
Personnel Management, through the Executive Director of 
the Federal Fellowship and Scholarship Center established 
under section 361, shall issue such documentation as is 
necessary to certify individuals under subsection (b) as eli-
gible for noncompetitive appointments in the competitive 
service. 
SEC. 
371. 
FACILITATION 
OF 
FEDERAL 
EMPLOYEE 
RESKILLING. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COMPETITIVE
SERVICE; EXCEPTED
SERV-
ICE.—The terms ‘‘competitive service’’ and ‘‘ex-
cepted service’’ have the meanings given the terms 
in sections 2102 and 2103, respectively, of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(2) FEDERAL
RESKILLING
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘Federal reskilling program’’ means a program 
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approved by the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management to provide an employee serving in a po-
sition in the competitive service or the excepted serv-
ice with technical skill or expertise that will enable 
such employee to continue work in the Federal Gov-
ernment in a different position in the competitive or 
excepted service that requires such skill or expertise. 
(b) REENTRY
AT SAME
OR HIGHER CLASS
AND 
GRADE.—Any employee who successfully completes a Fed-
eral reskilling program and transfers to a position in the 
Federal Government in the competitive or excepted service 
that requires technical skill or expertise provided to the 
employee in such Federal reskilling program shall, not-
withstanding the classification requirements set out in 
chapter 51 of title 5, United States Code, serve in the 
new position at a class and grade at or higher than the 
class and grade of the position from which the employee 
transferred. 
(c) GUIDANCE AND REGULATIONS.—Not later than 
120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall 
issue— 
(1) guidance on the approval process for Fed-
eral reskilling programs; and 
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(2) regulations ensuring the rights of partici-
pants described in subsection (b). 
SEC. 
372. 
CIVILIAN 
CYBERSECURITY 
RESERVE 
PILOT 
PROJECT. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
AGENCY
HEAD.—The term 
‘‘appropriate agency head’’ means— 
(A) in the case of the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security; and 
(B) in the case of the National Security 
Agency, the director of the National Security 
Agency. 
(2) COMPETITIVE SERVICE.—The term ‘‘com-
petitive service’’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 2102 of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) COVERED
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘covered 
agency’’ means the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity or the National Security Agency. 
(4) UNIFORMED
SERVICES.—The term ‘‘uni-
formed services’’ has the meaning given that term in 
section 2101 of title 5, United States Code. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to es-
tablish a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve as a pilot project 
to provide to the Federal Government trained and quali-
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fied civilian personnel who have previously served with the 
Federal Government or in the uniformed services and pos-
sess cybersecurity expertise, in order to address cybersecu-
rity needs of the United States to protect the national se-
curity of the United States. 
(c) PILOT PROJECT.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each appropriate agency 
head may carry out a pilot project to establish a Ci-
vilian Cybersecurity Reserve at the covered agency. 
(2) NONCOMPETITIVE APPOINTMENT.—Under a 
pilot project authorized under paragraph (1), the ap-
propriate agency head may noncompetitively appoint 
members of the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve to 
temporary positions in the competitive service. 
(d) ELIGIBILITY; APPLICATION AND SELECTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Under a pilot project au-
thorized under subsection (c), the appropriate agen-
cy head shall establish criteria for— 
(A) individuals to be eligible for the Civil-
ian Cybersecurity Reserve in the covered agen-
cy; and 
(B) the application and selection processes 
for the Reserve. 
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(2) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
INDIVIDUALS.—The 
criteria established under paragraph (1)(A) with re-
spect to an individual shall include— 
(A) previous employment by the Federal 
Government or within the uniformed services; 
and 
(B) cybersecurity expertise. 
(3) AGREEMENT
REQUIRED.—An individual 
may become a member of the Civilian Cybersecurity 
Reserve only if the individual enters into an agree-
ment with the appropriate agency head to become 
such a member. The agreement shall set forth the 
rights and obligations of the individual and the cov-
ered agency. 
(4) EXCEPTION
FOR
CONTINUING
MILITARY 
SERVICE COMMITMENTS.—A member of the Selected 
Reserve under section 10143 of title 10, United 
States Code, may not be a member of the Civilian 
Cybersecurity Reserve. 
(e) COMPONENTS OF THE CIVILIAN CYBERSECURITY 
RESERVE.—The appropriate agency head may consider, 
in carrying out a pilot project authorized under subsection 
(c), developing different components of the Civilian Cyber-
security Reserve in the covered agency, one with an obliga-
tion to respond when called into activation at the direction 
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of the appropriate agency head and one that is not com-
pelled to so respond, with appropriate corresponding dif-
fering benefits for each such component. 
(f) SECURITY CLEARANCES.—The appropriate agen-
cy head shall ensure that all members of the Civilian Cy-
bersecurity Reserve in the covered agency have an active 
security clearance in accordance with Executive Order 
12968 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note; relating to access to classi-
fied information) and Executive Order 13467 (50 U.S.C. 
3161 note; relating to reforming processes related to suit-
ability for Government employment, fitness for contractor 
employees, and eligibility for access to classified national 
security information). 
(g) PROJECT GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, each ap-
propriate agency head may issue guidance estab-
lishing and implementing a pilot project authorized 
under subsection (c) at the covered agency. 
(2) PENALTIES.—In developing guidance under 
paragraph (1), an appropriate agency head may pro-
vide for penalties for individuals who do not respond 
to activation when called, such as loss of security 
clearance, recoupment of pay or benefits earned as 
a member of the Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve, or 
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recoupment of civilian service creditable under sec-
tion 8411 of title 5, United States Code. 
(h) EVALUATION.—Not later than 5 years after the 
pilot project authorized under subsection (c) is established 
in each covered agency, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall— 
(1) conduct a study evaluating the pilot project 
at that agency; and 
(2) submit to Congress— 
(A) a report on the results of the study; 
and 
(B) a recommendation with respect to 
whether the pilot project should be modified, 
extended in duration, or established as a per-
manent program. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to each appropriate 
agency head such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
this section. 
SEC. 373. EXPANSION OF CYBER TALENT MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM. 
(a) EXPANSION OF CYBER TALENT MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM.—Subject to subsection (b), the head of any Ex-
ecutive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, United 
States Code, may exercise the authorities under section 
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‘‘(1) a means for each armed force to establish 
qualifying critical skills for inclusion in its Individual 
Ready Reserve for Critical Skills; 
‘‘(2) the standards and process for selection of 
individuals who are not otherwise in a reserve status 
to qualify for Individual Ready Reserve for Critical 
Skills of an armed force; 
‘‘(3) requirements for screening and re-evalua-
tion of members in the Individual Ready Reserve for 
Critical Skills; 
‘‘(4) the training and obligations required for 
members in the Individual Ready Reserve for Crit-
ical Skills; and 
‘‘(5) the use of allowances and nonmonetary in-
centives to retain members in the Individual Ready 
Reserve for Critical Skills. 
‘‘(c) MOBILIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) ACTIVE DUTY.—A member of the Indi-
vidual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills may be or-
dered to active duty without the consent of the mem-
ber in accordance with section 12304, or in accord-
ance with any other provision of law authorizing ac-
tivation of Individual Ready Reserve members. 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS.—A member 
of the Individual Ready Reserve for Critical Skills 
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