White House drives shift to skills-based hiring in government contracts

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a significant shift toward skills-based hiring for major federal contracts, including by eliminating many degree requirements on the forthcoming Polaris and Alliant 3 GWACs. At the recent "Classroom to Career" Summit, President Biden underscored the administration's commitment to prioritize experience and skill sets over traditional degree requirements in areas such as IT and cybersecurity.

Meanwhile, DOD plans a similar approach in its Naval Air Systems Command contracts. These changes reflect the administration's broader goals to enhance workforce accessibility and to drive high-quality, equitable workforce pathways in critical sectors.