Now is the time to come together. 

Executive Order: COMMENCING THE REDUCTION OF THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY

On 2/19/2025 an Executive Order was issued that axes the PMF program. The OPM Director has been instructed to start the process of ending the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program by withdrawing the related regulations. They must also take any necessary steps to shut down the program as soon as possible - see section 2e in the below Executive Order link. This is dismantling the work of multiple eras of presidential administrations - PMF was started by Jimmy Carter and has been a pillar program. 

What is PMF?

Bearing the Presidential moniker, the PMF Program is the Federal Government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree holders across all academic disciplines. It was established over 45 years ago by Executive Order and has gone through changes over the years, but the essential mission remains the same: to recruit and develop a cadre of future government leaders drawn from all segments of society. Eligible individuals apply to be selected as Finalists. Finalists then have 12 months to secure an appointment as a Fellow, which is a two-year, full-time, paid fellowship at a Federal agency. The PMF Program creates a lasting bond among Fellows and Alumni. It also instills a spirit of public service, which, for Fellows who complete the program successfully, can ultimately encourage and lead to a career in government. 

What Do You Want to Change About Government? What Will You Give?

You will give the best you have to give to a cause greater than yourself. You will bring fresh, new ideas and a willingness to take on challenges never dreamed possible.  Your zeal for the position will serve to spark new energy and excitement in your co-workers. As part of the PMF "fraternal order," you will portray your elite status through the quality of your work and service to your country. You will need to demonstrate leadership, foster teamwork, set goals and, in the end, deliver something of value to the American people.

My Story

I grew up in a low-income family in the Midwest. Money was tight, but we had love and support, and we were taught to work hard for a better future, the "American Dream". My ancestry dates only a few generations back to a German heritage and my family came to America to give us a better life and opportunity. No one in my family, my parents, grandparents, aunts, or uncles, had ever earned a four-year college degree which made me a first-generation student. When I started college, I paid for it with loans and scholarships. As a first-generation student, my experience was very different from many of my friends who had financial and family support.

I earned my master’s degree with the help of a scholarship for disadvantaged students because I grew up on SNAP benefits and free school lunches. After that, I worked full-time while completing my doctorate in less than three years. While still working full-time, I learned about the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF). For someone in public health, it was a dream opportunity. I had always said I wanted to be a federal employee trying to make people healthier and have opportunities to live the best life they could. The PMF was a way to build my career and support my family. So, I applied. I passed multiple assessments and became a semifinalist, then prepared for the interview.

Becoming a PMF isn’t easy. Most applicants spend over a year in the process, often turning down other opportunities while waiting. Even if you’re selected as a finalist, you still have to apply and interview for a job. It’s long, difficult, and exhausting. But we do it because we believe in public service and the promise of a better future.

In 2024, around 7,200 people applied, but only 200 were appointed—a 2.8% chance of success. The current 2024 class has been removed from the website. 

This isn’t about “right-sizing” government—it’s about shutting out people who are ready and eager to serve.

For decades, the PMF Program has helped develop future government leaders, and it has had support from both Democrats and Republicans. No matter how you vote, growing strong leaders in government benefits everyone. Ending this program doesn’t just affect people like me—it hurts our country by cutting off opportunities for hardworking, committed public servants.

I won’t get to call myself a PMF alum, and after all the work I put in, it feels like it was for nothing. And I’m not alone. Many of us are deeply committed to serving our communities and making government better. We don’t want handouts—we just want a fair chance to contribute. Ending this program is a short-sighted decision that will weaken our government for years to come. 

The deed is done in our November votes, but we can still NOW choose to change what is happening and say no. I encourage you to remember we all want a better life, we all want to be able to afford our homes/groceries/lives. The PMF program uplifts and impacts all of us in all communities across our nation. 

This is not about "right-sizing" or a "reduction in force." This is a deliberate move by the Administration to dismantle a fellowship program designed to develop future leaders in public service. It directly affects young professionals who want to build a career in federal government.

This decision doesn’t just hurt today’s applicants—it hurts the next generation of leaders and weakens the future of our public institutions. It is a disservice to the American people, a failure as a nation, and an insult to those working hard to serve. This should not be taken lightly.

Resources: 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/commencing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/

https://www.pmf.gov/the-opportunity/pmf-as-a-pathway/

Email: FightPMF@proton.me

Please share your story PMFs and let's work together to continue to fight for our democracy.