Latest News News

RELEASE: OPM Celebrates Public Service Recognition Week

2021 marks 36 years of highlighting public service

Washington, D.C. – This week, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is honoring the 2.8 million federal employees for their service and commitment as part of Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW), celebrated annually during the first week of May. During a global pandemic and unprecedented set of challenges this past year, the federal workforce displayed resilience and commitment to their work. The Biden-Harris Administration will celebrate PSRW throughout the federal government as a sign of the President’s commitment to protect, empower, and rebuild the career federal workforce.

“The work of federal public servants affects so much of our lives, from supporting our biggest dreams to helping us tackle our day to day challenges,” said OPM Acting Director Kathleen McGettigan. “Federal employees have helped discover distant galaxies, land rovers on Mars, and explore the depths of the oceans. They’ve helped fight a global pandemic and taken care of our veterans. They support our small businesses, schools, national parks, and infrastructure. We are grateful to our federal workforce for the many unsung things they do for our country, and I am proud to support this effort as a PSRW co-chair.”

During PSRW, OPM will highlight the contributions of a variety of communities within the federal workforce, including federal retirees, veterans, and federal employees who have died in the line of duty. OPM will also host several internal events, including a town hall, wellness seminar, financial literacy course, informational sessions for the local unions, and a welcome ceremony for OPM’s newest members of the Senior Executive Service (SES).

“With 80 percent of the federal workforce living outside Washington, D.C., our public servants typically live in the communities they serve, demonstrating their tireless commitment to making life better for their friends, family, and neighbors,” said McGettigan.

PSRW runs from May 2-8, 2021. Last week, President Biden released A Proclamation on Public Service Recognition Week, 2021.

OPM leads and serves the federal government in enterprise human resources management by delivering policies and services to achieve a trusted, effective civilian workforce. By Empowering Excellence in Government through Great People, we provide leadership and support to U.S. agencies on issues including human resources policy and oversight, federal employee benefits, retirement services, guidance on labor-management relations, and programs to improve workforce performance. For more information, visit OPM.gov or follow OPM on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.