Full Breakdown
OPM Ties Remote-Work Expansion to DEIA Strategy
6/22/2026, 11:24:48 PM
Background, Context, and Leadership
The initiative follows the COVID-19 pandemic, which showed remote work can lower geographic barriers that have limited participation. OPM’s effort aligns with hiring drives under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to fill federal jobs. Deputy chief of staff Khalilah Harris leads the effort and, at the White House Initiative Latino Economic Summit in Atlanta on Aug. 23, 2022, stressed the need for a workforce that reflects the nation’s full diversity.
Key Data
- About 80 % of federal employees work outside Washington, D.C.
- USAJobs now includes a “remote-only” filter for fully remote jobs.
- OPM is piloting blind applications for senior roles and cross-agency assignments.
Official Statements & Policy Actions
OPM expanded remote listings on USAJobs, issued May-2022 guidance that replaces blanket bachelor’s-degree requirements with skills-based criteria, and launched programs to upskill staff and address data gaps affecting retention. Harris said remote work “allows people to stay in their communities, in rural communities and in communities that have fewer resources.”
Criticism & Opposition
Harris noted that some interactions—reading body language and discussions—still benefit from face-to-face contact. She said, “it does not make sense to pull people, who are anchors in those communities, out to go work in other places,” highlighting a balance between virtual and in-person collaboration.
What’s Next
OPM will broaden blind hiring for senior positions, expand cross-agency service options, and strengthen promotion pathways to address reduced diversity at senior levels. The agency will track the pilots’ impact on recruitment and retention.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When it comes to DEIA, we need to be conscious of the ways in which building your network allows for opportunity,” — Khalilah Harris, Deputy Chief of Staff, OPM
- “It does not make sense to pull people, who are anchors in those communities, out to go work in other places.” — Khalilah Harris, OPM
- “When we think about the future of work, using a blanket bachelor’s degree requirement to determine who is able to do a job really has not been serving us well, and has been causing a lot more inequity,” — Khalilah Harris, OPM
- “Remote work is something that is important to many people, allowing them to stay in their communities, in rural communities and in communities that have fewer resources,” — Khalilah Harris, OPM
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources do not provide quantitative data on how remote-work expansion has changed DEIA outcomes, nor do they include external evaluations of the blind-hiring pilots. Information on applicant demographics and long-term retention remains unavailable.
