The U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) final regulations to close out the Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF) in accordance with Section 2(e) of Executive Order 14217 titled, "Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy" were published in the Federal Register and are effective today. 

OPM also published a variation, also effective today, to facilitate the transition of current Fellows out of the program while promptly terminating the PMF Program.  This variation explains how agencies will transition Fellows out of the Program: 

• The duration of the PMF Program is reduced from two years to one year. 

• Current Fellows who have already completed one year must convert after completion of the Program requirements, as amended, but no later than December 31, 2025, or else be separated from Federal service. 

• The PMF Program permitted agencies to extend a Fellow’s appointment up to 120-days to allow processing of a conversion; that allowance is unchanged. 

• The developmental and training requirements have been removed.  However, agencies are encouraged to provide such opportunities to Fellows as time permits. 

• The requirement for the Executive Review Board certification before conversion is waived.  Completion of the program may be verified by a senior agency official(s) who has 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.  

If you have any follow up questions about the PMF sunset final rule or variation, please email pathways@opm.gov. 

OPM’s Office of Workforce Policy and Innovation