PMAA Legislative Updates

July 2025

Executive Summary

The Presidential Management Alumni Association (PMAA) is urging Congress to pass the "Training Aspiring Leaders Emerging Now to Serve" Act (S.1768), also known as the TALENTS Act, to reinstate and codify the Presidential Management Fellows Program into federal law.

The PMF Program, which operated successfully for nearly 50 years as the federal government's premier leadership development initiative, was terminated by President Trump on February 19, 2025, through Executive Order 14217. The program had served as a critical pipeline for recruiting top talent into federal service, with an impressive 87% of Fellows transitioning to permanent government positions.

11.5%
Acceptance Rate (2024)
87%
Fellows Staying in Government
50
Years of Operation
7%
Federal Workforce Under 30

Key Benefits of Reinstating the PMF Program

1. Fostering Innovation in Government

  • Addresses the critical shortage of young talent in the federal workforce
  • Brings fresh perspectives, new ideas, and modern approaches to government operations
  • Serves as a pathway for introducing cutting-edge technologies and methodologies

2. Nurturing Leadership and Management Competencies

  • Attracts high-caliber candidates who might not otherwise consider federal service
  • Provides intensive training and development opportunities
  • Creates leaders equipped to navigate transitions and implement new initiatives

3. Delivering for All Americans

  • Ensures the federal government has top talent to address pressing challenges
  • Trains future leaders to navigate complex policy issues with integrity
  • Maintains agency competence across diverse areas from economic recovery to national security

Program Background

Historical Context

The PMF Program was established in 1977 through Executive Order 12008 and has been expanded by both Republican and Democratic Presidents, demonstrating its historically bipartisan nature. The program mirrors successful leadership development initiatives found in corporate America, applying proven management best practices to federal recruitment and development.

Program Structure

The PMF Program operates as a highly competitive, merit-based initiative that requires Fellows to:

  • Complete demanding developmental training requirements
  • Serve in full-time roles at federal agencies nationwide
  • Complete rotations outside their home office for broader perspective
  • Work on critical and popular government programs

Take Action

Learn more about the impact of Presidential Management Fellows and support the TALENTS Act.

Read Fellow Stories Contact Congress

Full Text of Congressional Letter

Congress: Bring back the Presidential Management Fellows Program As current Fellows and alumni of the federal government's Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program, we urgently request your support for the "Training Aspiring Leaders Emerging Now to Serve" Act (S.1768) or TALENTS Act which would codify the PMF Program into federal law and support the essential pipeline of future leaders into our Federal government. For almost 50 years, the merit-based PMF Program has served as the federal government's premier leadership development program and a highly successful tool for recruiting our nation's most talented individuals into the next generation of government leaders. The PMF Program was created in 1977 through Executive Order 12008 and has been expanded by both Republican and Democratic Presidents. This historically bipartisan program has relied on common-sense management best practices, mirroring similar programs across corporate America. The goal of the PMF Program is simple: recruit, develop, and retain the nation's most talented individuals into federal service. It is intensely competitive and desirable for applicants; in 2024, the program had only an 11.5% acceptance rate following a rigorous application and assessment process. Once on board, Fellows serve the American people in full-time roles at nearly every federal agency, working on many of the most important and popular programs in the country. Fellows are required to participate in demanding developmental training and must complete a rotation outside of their home office to gain perspective on how to solve the challenges of today and tomorrow. As a result of the investment in the development of Fellows, the PMF Program has a proven track record as a pipeline for early career professionals to stay in federal service: 87% of PMFs took a permanent or term position in government following the completion of their two-year fellowship. Despite its success, the PMF Program was never codified into law, and on February 19, 2025, President Trump terminated the program in his Executive Order Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy (E.O. 14217). This action was short-sighted: now more than ever, the Legislative and Executive Branches need the fresh perspectives and highly talented public servants the PMF Program provides to ensure our government is prepared to tackle the enormous challenges facing the American people today and in the future. The benefits of reinstating the PMF Program are numerous, but three stand out: 1. Fostering innovation in government: With just over 7% of the federal workforce under the age of 30, the federal government is in dire need of young talent for which the PMF Program can continue to serve as a pathway to bring new ideas, approaches, and technologies to the federal workforce. Fellows have long been a source of fresh thinking within government and should remain a central tool in modernizing and improving government operations. 2. Nurturing leadership and management competencies: The PMF Program's reputation for excellence attracts candidates who may not otherwise consider federal service. Fellows receive intensive training and are significantly more likely to stay in government compared to similarly motivated non-fellow finalists and become leaders who have the skills and knowledge to lead and adapt during transitions and drive the implementation of new goals. Alumni include well-respected leaders who are effective and efficient stewards of government programs. 3. Delivering for all Americans: The federal government will always need top talent to address its most pressing challenges. By making the PMF Program a permanent fixture of federal recruitment, Congress would ensure that future generations of leaders are trained to navigate complex policy challenges, work collaboratively, and serve with integrity and commitment to the security and prosperity of the American people. This would help maintain the competence and effectiveness of federal agencies as they address a wide range of issues, from economic recovery to national security to food safety. You can hear directly from current and past Fellows about the impact of their work for the American people here: https://www.presidentialmanagementalumniassociation.org/stories Finally, your support of the TALENTS Act to codify the Presidential Management Fellows Program into federal law will ensure the best and brightest can help tackle the most complex challenges facing our nation for generations to come. We encourage your strong support and advocacy for this legislation. In service, The Presidential Management Alumni Association All signatures are being made in an individual's personal capacity.