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News Release
Wednesday, December 8, 2004
Tel: 202-606-2402
Student Interest In OPM's New Presidential Management Fellows Program Up Over 20 Percent In 2004
Director James Proud of the PMF's Strong Growth in Second Year
Washington, D.C. - Kay Coles James, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, today announced the agency has received 3,321 applications for the new Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, an increase of 21 percent compared to 2003. In the new program's second year, nominations of these applicants by university officials increased by 23 percent, with 3,073 students being nominated, compared to 2,503 in 2003. The finalists will be announced by Director James in the spring of 2005.
"Once again the proof is in the numbers," stated James. "The interest in ‘Working for America' clearly exists among the best and brightest talent in America. It is President Bush's vision and my personal mission to streamline the Federal hiring process to ensure that our fellow citizens have opportunities to serve their nation. The need to replace the previous Presidential Management Intern (PMI) Program was clear, and the increase in applications is a testament to the hard work of the new program's participants and the excitement they have communicated about it."
On November 21, 2003, President Bush signed Executive Order 13318 replacing the Presidential Management Intern Program with the Presidential Management Fellows Program. The substance of this act extended far beyond the name. The Executive Order removed an annual hiring cap of 400 positions associated with the previous program, increased pay levels, expanded participation to excepted-service agencies (such as law enforcement and national security agencies), and created a Senior Fellows component. In addition, Director James moved the headquarters out of Philadelphia to Washington, increasing visibility for the program, and increased staffing levels.
The program is designed to target outstanding individuals from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have an interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. Over 3,500 alumni of the previous program currently serve in all cabinet departments and more than 50 Federal agencies.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the leader in workforce management for the federal government. Our agency builds, strengthens, and serves a federal workforce of 2.2 million employees with programs like hiring assistance, healthcare and insurance, retirement benefits, and much more. We provide agencies with policies, guidance, and best practices for supporting federal workers, so they can best serve the American people.