Upcoming PMF Class of 2025 to See More Program Flexibility

Applications are now open for the incoming class of Presidential Management Fellows. Although the PMF program has been around for 45 years, the 2025 version of the PMF program may look a little different.

At agencies, the incoming class of PMFs may have more options available to them thanks to new regulations from the Office of Personnel Management for the Pathways Program. The OPM regulations, finalized in April, added flexibility to the way agencies run their early-career talent programs, the first update to the program in 14 years.

“Federal employees are at the forefront of American innovation and competition. To continue to advance, we must strengthen the pipeline for young talent,” OPM Acting Director Rob Shriver said in a statement to Federal News Network. “These updates will enhance an already top-notch program and provide federal agencies with the flexibility they need to bring in the next generation of promising leaders.”

Many of the new flexibilities are optional, not required, meaning that making them happen depends on agency resources. And in cases like the Department of Health and Human Services, that requires creative thinking.

However, under OPM’s final rule, agencies may transfer participants who complete the PMF program to full-time positions at other agencies, rather than being limited to the location where they worked as PMFs.

“When an agency is unable to convert an eligible recent graduate or PMF, the agency and the government lose the knowledge and experience the participant gained during the program,” OPM wrote in the final regulation. “The opportunity to convert at another agency can prevent this loss.”

The catch, however, is that Presidential Management Fellows can only transfer to another agency if there are no suitable positions available at the agency employing them when they complete the program. In the proposed regulations, some stakeholders called for more flexibility to allow PMF graduates to transfer at any time. OPM maintained its initial plan in the final regulations but noted several other flexibilities that are still available.

“Recent graduates and PMFs have the opportunity to transition to other positions in the Federal Government before and after the conversion deadline,” OPM wrote. “For example, recent graduates and PMFs may request a transfer to another agency during the program. Once a person transitions to a permanent position in the competitive service, the individual may seek a transfer to another agency.”

OPM also said it is developing tools to ease the process of transferring candidates between agencies.

Part-time work options and the role of PMF coordinators

The highly competitive Presidential Management Fellows Program is one of three branches of the Pathways Program, along with recent graduates and internship programs. PMFs fill two-year paid positions at agencies, typically focused on developing federal leadership. These positions are reserved for those with postgraduate degrees or similar types of advanced degrees.

Under the new OPM rules, prospective PMF participants may see more flexibility in their work schedules. In some cases, agencies may allow participants to work part-time for up to six months, according to the updates, which could open the door to a more diverse pool of candidates. If participants wish, they must request part-time hours, and their hiring agency can decide whether to grant them.

In addition, OPM finalized changes to how agencies conduct the program, specifically how Presidential Management Fellows Program coordinators manage each class of participants. In the final rule, OPM outlined more specific responsibilities for agency coordinators.

Before the April final regulation, the PMF coordinator was broadly defined as “the individual at the appropriate agency component level who coordinates the deployment, development, and other programmatic activities of PMF coordinators designated within his or her agency,” OPM explained.

However, the program updates detail more specific responsibilities that the agency’s PMF coordinator must undertake. These include coordinating the recruitment and onboarding processes for PMFs, as well as working with agency-wide workforce initiatives to ensure PMFs are properly integrated.

Generally, PMF coordinators should be at the GS-12 level or higher, OPM explained. In addition, for new coordinators, OPM offers resources and technical assistance to help get them up to speed, such as an agency brochure, participant handbook, implementation toolkit and more.

“The PMF program office also holds monthly meetings with all coordinators, facilitates the activities of the agency’s PMF advisory board, and sponsors a mentoring program for new PMF coordinators,” OPM wrote.

More opportunities for development and rotation

Beginning with the incoming 2025 cohort, OPM is also clarifying and expanding options for Presidential Management Fellows who will participate in “developmental assignments” during the two-year program.

PMF participants typically work on at least one developmental or rotational assignment for several months during the two-year program. With the new rules, agencies will now have 90 days, up from the previous 45 days, to create individual development plans (IDPs) for participants and assign at least one rotational assignment to each person.

In addition to maintaining the opportunity for developmental and rotational assignments, OPM’s new regulations also give PMF participants an alternative option to spend four to six months of their time in the program working on a different type of initiative. Instead of a rotational assignment, this could involve working on an executive order, a major piece of legislation, or interagency collaboration on a major administrative initiative, OPM said.

Agencies also recently expanded the number of PMF finalists they select. For the 2024 program year, agencies selected 825 finalists from across the government from more than 7,000 applicants. In total, more than 6,000 participants have joined the federal workforce full-time since the program’s inception.

OPM said the Pathways program, including the PMF program, is a primary way agencies attract and develop early career talent in the federal workforce. Applications are due by midnight Sept. 18 for the incoming class of 2025.