Federal hiring AI and USA Hire: different rules for agencies and applicants

What the agency memorandum covers

OPM encourages agency AI use under OMB M-25-21. Its examples include drafting hiring materials and summarizing applicant documentation. Independent review of the underlying record matters: human approval alone does not remove a high-impact designation. Existing validation, privacy, accessibility, veterans' preference and documentation obligations remain. The memo does not establish whether a particular agency uses AI.^[1]

What you certify in USA Hire

USA Hire requires applicants to certify independent work, truthful information and no copying or sharing of assessment content, including with the Help Desk. Failure to certify or false certification makes an applicant ineligible for that announcement. The FAQ also warns of possible broader consequences for dishonest conduct. This is a testing rule, not a general rule for every federal application activity.^[2]

Build an instruction record before you begin

The following checklist is editorial guidance for applying the linked rules. Save the announcement number, application deadline, assessment deadline, agency contact and assessment-provider name. Keep the instructions for the announcement and each assessment together. Record any stated restrictions on outside assistance beside the step to which they apply.^[1][2]

Separate your tasks into application documents, preparation using public materials, and the live assessment. For the first two, check the actual instructions before using a tool; this article supplies no blanket permission. For USA Hire testing, plan to work independently without AI. An agency's use of AI is no evidence that your own use is permitted.^[1][2]

Resolve access and accommodation questions early

If you need an accommodation or cannot understand a tool restriction, use the contact or request process named in your invitation. Explain the access problem without sending assessment questions, screenshots or answer choices. Ask for instructions before beginning when possible. Keep the reply with your instruction record; do not assume that silence authorizes assistance.^[1][2]

An original message template is: I am applying to announcement [number]. Before I start the assessment, where should I request an accommodation or confirm whether [tool or feature] is permitted? Please direct me to the applicable instructions. Replace the placeholders and describe your need accurately. The template does not itself request or establish an approved exception.^[1][2]

Prepare your workspace without exposing test content

As a practical precaution, close AI chat windows, writing assistants and browser features that could receive test content or suggest answers. If a required accessibility feature appears to conflict with the instructions, resolve that question through the stated process rather than disabling necessary support or improvising an exception. Follow any specific workspace directions in your invitation.^[2]

Do not paste a live question into an AI tool to ask what it means, request an answer, or rewrite your response. If a technical problem occurs, describe the error or access issue through the approved support channel without copying the assessment content. Keep your own support record free of questions and answer choices.^[2]

Use the correct source for the decision

For an agency hiring-policy question, consult the OPM memorandum and the relevant agency instructions. For a USA Hire testing question, consult the assessment invitation and its official resource center. When instructions seem inconsistent, ask the named contact to clarify before proceeding. This article is a dated explanation and practical checklist, not legal advice or a determination about an individual application.^[1][2]