Rule2025-15236
Pathways Presidential Management Fellows Program: Variation
Primary source
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Published
August 11, 2025
Effective
August 11, 2025
Issuing agencies
Personnel Management Office
Abstract
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is providing notice that the Director is authorizing a variation from the Pathways Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program regulations under which current Fellows remain employed. The Director has found that such variation is necessary and will further the objectives set forth by the President in Executive Order (E.O.) 14217.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 152 (Monday, August 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 152 (Monday, August 11, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38603-38604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15236]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 152 / Monday, August 11, 2025 / Rules
and Regulations
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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 362
RIN 3206-AO85
Pathways Presidential Management Fellows Program: Variation
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Notification.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is providing notice
that the Director is authorizing a variation from the Pathways
Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program regulations under which
current Fellows remain employed. The Director has found that such
variation is necessary and will further the objectives set forth by the
President in Executive Order (E.O.) 14217.
DATES: This variation is effective from August 11, 2025 until the
remaining Fellows have been converted out of the Program or their
appointments have expired but not later than July 1, 2026, except that
Fellows who have completed more than one year of the PMF Program as of
August 11, 2025 must complete their requirements and be converted or
their appointments will expire not later than December 31, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katika Floyd by telephone at (202)
606-0960; or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#63060e130f0c1a230c130e4d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c2a7afb2aeadbb82adb2afeca5adb4">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a related final rule published elsewhere
in this edition of the Federal Register, OPM removed regulations
implementing the PMF Program in accordance with section 2(e) of E.O.
14217, ``Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy'' (90 FR
10577, Feb. 25, 2025). However, several hundred Fellows remain employed
under the PMF appointment authority. Accordingly, pursuant to 5 CFR
5.1, the Director has determined that a variation is necessary to
effectuate the completion of their appointments. The elimination of the
PMF Program presents a unique practical difficulty for the agencies
employing these individuals; however, retaining the current regulations
would delay implementation of the President's direction to sunset the
PMF Program. See 5 CFR 5.1(a). Furthermore, the Director finds that
providing a mechanism to transition these employees out of the PMF
Program will promote the efficiency of the Government as these
employees represent top talent that is high achieving and motivated,
and their contributions to the American people will be of great value.
See 5 CFR 5.1(c). The provisions of this variation apply only to an
employee serving under an appointment under Sec. 213.3402(c) as of
August 11, 2025 (for the purposes of this variation, ``current
Fellows'') until the remaining Fellows have been converted out of the
Program or their appointments have expired. 5 CFR 5.1(d).
Although OPM seeks to provide a mechanism for transitioning current
Fellows out of the PMF Program and into the competitive service, OPM
also remains committed to ensuring that basic standards are applied
prior to permitting conversion, adhering to the spirit of the
regulations, and protecting and promoting the efficiency of the
Government and the integrity of the competitive service. Accordingly,
agencies must continue to apply PMF Program requirements as codified at
5 CFR part 362, subpart D, as it appeared in the January 1, 2025,
edition of 5 CFR parts 1-699 (Vol.1) subject to the following
variations. See 5 CFR 5.1(b).
When the current Fellows were appointed, the expected duration of
the program was two years. See Sec. 362.404(a)(1). Similarly, Sec.
362.408 provided that, as a condition of employment, a Fellow's
appointment expired at the end of the ``2-year'' program. Because the
President directed the prompt termination of the program, this
variation shortens the expected duration of the program. For the
purposes of Sec. 362.408, a Fellow's appointment continues to expire
at the end of the program as follows. For current Fellows who have not
completed one year as of August 11, 2025, appointments under Sec.
213.3402(c) may not exceed one year, at which time the Fellow must
convert, or else their appointment will expire and they will be
separated from Federal service. For current Fellows who have already
completed one year, each Fellow must convert after completion of the
Program requirements as revised by this variation, but no later than
December 31, 2025, or else their appointment will expire, and they will
be separated from Federal service. The PMF Program permitted an agency
to extend a Fellow's appointment up to 120-days to allow processing of
a conversion (see Sec. 362.404(b)); that allowance is unchanged.
The PMF Program required an agency to provide each Fellow with at
least one four- to six-month developmental assignment. See Sec.
362.405(b)(4). To facilitate prompt winddown of the program, for
current Fellows, OPM is removing the requirement for a developmental
assignment. Nonetheless, agencies are encouraged to provide a reduced
assignment of 30- to 60-days, if possible.
The PMF Program required an agency to provide each Fellow a minimum
of 80 hours of formal interactive training per year. See Sec.
362.405(b)(2). To ease operational burdens on agencies as the program
winds down, OPM is removing the requirement for training. However, OPM
encourages agencies to proactively notify Fellows of appropriate
training opportunities and work with each Fellow to develop a mutually
agreeable training plan. Because of steps taken to eliminate the PMF
Program, OPM will not provide leadership development activities and
general Program resources or information on available training
opportunities known to it, as described in Sec. 362.405(b)(1).
Finally, prior to conversion, each current Fellow must complete the
requirements of the Program, as revised by this variation, and program
completion must be verified. However, the requirement for the Executive
Review Board certification before conversion is waived. See Sec.
362.405(d). Completion of the program may be verified by senior agency
official or officials who have been given responsibility for executive
resources management and oversight by the agency head. The
determination regarding completion of the program is in the sole
discretion of such leadership (or designees) and no appeal to OPM will
be provided. The agency should not
[[Page 38604]]
forward proof of verification to OPM, as the PMF Program is being
eliminated.
Office of Personnel Management.
Stephen Hickman,
Federal Register Liaison.
[FR Doc. 2025-15236 Filed 8-8-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P
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