An open letter to President Donald J. Trump and Members of the 116th Congress:
We are writing to you as organizations dedicated to inspiring public service and encouraging excellence in government. We welcome the final report of the National Commission on Military, National and Public Service and its far-reaching recommendations to ensure that our government has the talent it needs to serve the public today and in the future.
Congress gave the Commission an extremely broad mandate to find ways to encourage and bolster public service, and from its earliest deliberations the Commissioners recognized that the antiquated federal civil service structure is simply unsustainable. Our government lacks a long-term strategy to retain and attract the brightest minds who can help solve our nation’s biggest problems. At no time has that been more clear than now.
As the heroic efforts to respond to the coronavirus show, we all benefit from dedicated, skilled public servants. We are not doing enough to retain top talent in government, or to build paths for young people to enter public service. We encourage you to engage with the members of the Commission about their findings, and to consider the views of the current workforce as well as young people making career choices. The Commission’s report offers a blueprint for moving forward with common-sense administrative actions and legislative improvements that could be included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act or other legislation.
Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (ASPIA)
Federal Managers Association (FMA)
National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA)
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE)
National Council of Social Security Management Associations (NCSSMA)
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA)
Partnership for Public Service
Professional Managers Association (PMA)
Robertson Foundation for Government
Senior Executives Association (SEA)
The Volcker Alliance
