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Krishnamoorthi introduces skills-based federal hiring bill
The bill would reduce bachelor's degree requirements for many federal jobs while retaining them for positions where they remain required.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 08, Jul 2026
- 13:41 EDT
- 36
Raja Krishnamoorthi / File Photo
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi introduced a bipartisan bill July 6 to expand federal job opportunities for qualified workers without bachelor's degrees.
The Federal Jobs for STARs Act, introduced with Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.), Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.), and John McGuire (R-Va.), seeks to modernize federal hiring by expanding opportunities for workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), including those who have gained experience through military service, apprenticeships, community college, career and technical education, and on-the-job training.
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Krishnamoorthi said millions of qualified Americans are excluded from federal employment because of degree requirements that are not essential for many positions.
"Qualified Americans should not be denied a fair opportunity to compete for federal jobs simply because they don't have a bachelor's degree," Krishnamoorthi said. "For millions of Americans, that unnecessary barrier has become a 'paper ceiling' separating them from federal jobs they are fully qualified to perform."
He added that the federal government should evaluate applicants based on "whether they have the skills and experience to do the job—not simply whether they have a four-year degree," saying the bipartisan measure would help recruit the best talent into public service while expanding opportunities for qualified workers.
According to the lawmakers, nearly two-thirds of American adults do not hold a bachelor's degree, although many have developed workforce skills through nontraditional educational and career pathways. The bill would retain degree requirements for federal positions where they are deemed necessary.
If enacted, the legislation would direct the Office of Personnel Management to establish skills-based qualification standards recognizing military service, apprenticeships, community college, career training, and other alternative credentials. It would also create a dedicated hiring pathway for STARs on USAJobs and require a government-wide study on additional training, education, and career development opportunities for STAR employees.
Mackenzie said valuable skills are acquired through multiple pathways beyond a college education and argued that excessive degree requirements prevent qualified workers from serving in the federal workforce.
Bynum said hiring practices that rely on traditional educational credentials cause employers and workers to miss opportunities, noting that skilled employees often emerge from military service, technical education, apprenticeships, and certification programs.
McGuire said many talented Americans are prevented from joining the federal workforce because they lack a college degree despite possessing relevant experience gained through military service, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.
The legislation has drawn support from labor and workforce organizations.
Randy Erwin, national president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, said the measure strengthens the merit-based principles of the civil service by removing unnecessarily restrictive degree requirements while preserving educational or licensing standards where needed.
Blair Corcoran de Castillo, senior vice president of Public Sector & Policy at Opportunity@Work, said the bill would help ensure that federal hiring reflects workers' skills, experience, and ability to perform the job. She noted that more than 70 million Americans qualify as STARs through alternative pathways, including military service, apprenticeships, workforce training, community college, and years of work experience.
Original cosponsors of the bill include Reps. Troy Downing (R-Mont.), Shomari Figures (D-Ala.), Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), and Josh Walkinshaw (D-Va.).
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