Sponsors (3)
The bill substantially expands and standardizes a pathway into federal leadership with stronger development, faster hiring, and clearer conversion rules—but it increases program costs and administrative burdens while concentrating authority and limiting some fellow protections, appeal rights, and flexibility.
Federal fellows and prospective fellows: preserve employment continuity and conversion opportunities by allowing Program service to transfer between agencies without a break, enabling conversion to term/permanent competitive service (and reinstatement in non‑disciplinary withdrawals).
Students and recent graduates: expand and regularize entry opportunities into federal service through an annual competition, published finalist lists, and a planned increase (doubling) in leadership‑track fellowship slots (FY2026–FY2031), widening the pipeline into government careers.
Fellows and agencies: strengthen career development by requiring individualized development plans, at least 80 hours/year of interactive training, mentoring, and 120–180 day rotations (including HQ rotations and FEB activities), standardizing leadership development across cohorts.
Fellows: face reduced statutory protections and limited appeal rights because many fellows serve in excepted service/trial status, agency placement/readmission decisions are final (and the Director can overrule agencies with no appeal), and some adverse findings can permanently bar readmission.
Fellows: risk abrupt job loss and lost career prospects if they fail to meet certification/timing requirements — Program completion deadlines, loss of conversion eligibility for uncertified Fellows, and a 30‑day separation after denied certification or extension.
Taxpayers and agencies: will likely incur increased administrative and personnel costs from expanding Fellow slots, meeting training/mentoring/rotation requirements, staffing and operating Federal Executive Boards, and preparing periodic program reports.
Based on analysis of 12 sections of legislative text.
Expands and formalizes the Presidential Management Fellows Program, sets selection/appointment and training/rotation rules, enables conversion to competitive service, and establishes Federal Executive Boards in 26 metros.
Introduced December 12, 2025 by Melanie Ann Stansbury · Last progress December 12, 2025
Creates a strengthened Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) program that recruits, trains, and places early-career leaders across the federal government and establishes or continues Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) in named metropolitan areas to support regional federal operations. It sets rules for selecting finalists, appointment terms and pay grades, training and mentoring requirements, rotations, certification and conversion into permanent or term competitive service jobs, interagency transfers, withdrawal and removal procedures, and recurring OPM reporting to Congress.