GSA Student Loan Repayment Plan

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
                Washington, DC 20405

HRM 9537.1B
February 24, 2023


 

GSA ORDER
 

SUBJECT: Student Loan Repayment Program

1. Purpose. This Order issues policy governing the GSA Student Loan Repayment (SLR) Plan which was established to repay employee student loans when necessary to recruit or retain highly qualified professional, technical or administrative personnel.

2. Background. The Federal student loan repayment program permits agencies to repay Federally insured student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for candidates or current employees of the agency. The program implements 5 U.S.C. 5379, which authorizes agencies to set up their own student loan repayment programs to attract or retain highly qualified employees.

3. Scope and Applicability. 

a. The authority applies to candidates outside of the federal government or current federal employees within GSA who participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program. Exceptions to the agency usage of the student loan repayment program are found in 5 CFR 537. 

b. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) has independent hiring and personnel administration authority. See Section 6(a)(7) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, 5 U.S.C. App 3, as amended (Inspector General is authorized “to select, appoint, and employ, such officers and employees as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General”) and GSA Order ADM 5450.39D CHGE 1, GSA Delegations of Authority Manual (Delegations Manual), Chapter 2, Part 1 (“the Inspector General has independent authority to formulate policies and make determinations concerning human capital issues within the [OIG] and GSA determinations/delegations do not limit that authority). Similarly, GSA specifically recognizes that the Inspector General has independent authority to formulate policies and make determinations concerning training, employee development, and career management.

4. Cancellation. This Order cancels and supersedes HRM 9537.1A dated September 9, 2016.

5. Revisions.

a. Updates organizational names.

b. Minor grammatical edits and corrections.

c. Adds questions and answers on SLR eligibility.

d. Clarified recordkeeping and documentation requirements.