Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), spoke at Texas A&M on September 22, 2026, during a college tour aimed at recruiting students into public service. He expressed concern about the low percentage of federal workers under 30, attributing this to a failure to effectively communicate the benefits of a government career to young people. Kupor emphasized the need for merit-based hiring practices that focus on skills rather than traditional qualifications, seeking to create a more innovative and high-performance government culture.
His discussions touched on recent federal hiring changes, including a shift towards skills-based promotions and the potential integration of AI in hiring processes to enhance efficiency without replacing human judgment. Kupor acknowledged the challenges of underperforming employees within the constraints of civil service protections, advocating for a system that prioritizes performance.
Overall, he believes that instilling a sense of high performance and innovation in the federal workforce is vital for attracting young talent and addressing national challenges.
